‘Spark It Up’ is the dreamy new single from RUBYGOLD and CTT BEATS. The single incorporates some smooth neo-soul vibes to their Afro Pop trademark. The accompanied music video portrays a dreamy relaxed day that signifies Ruby’s beautiful relaxed and charming manner.
Commenting on the release, Mark Insley of CTT Beats says “RubyGold has just got it! There is something very special about her and her work that she is putting out with us. She is also one of the most professional artists we have worked with making the experience of collaboration even more enjoyable. She is back and here to stay in South African music lovers’ ears”.
‘Spark It Up’ was released today across various music platforms…why not check out the video to the memersing single…
Toronto-based artist MATTHEW PROGRESS has released ‘Digital Underground’, the latest single from his forthcoming debut album God Made Dirt. A stark departure from the album’s previous singles (‘Gen Pop’, ‘Doc Neville’) which were more concerned with politically and socially-focused matters, ‘Digital Underground’ instead sees Matthew exploring the freeing power of sexual liberation. Evoking the feel and sensation of an acid trip, ‘Digital Underground’ is a psychedelic slice of new age funk, harkening back to the work of OutKast, Parliament-Funkadelic, Rick James and The Free Nationals, but re-imagined in a way that falls in line with Matthew’s trademark sense of menace and darkness. Its classic-sounding bass lines are paired with sensibilities skewing more electronic, that are further elevated by Matthew’s pitched up vocals.
Says Matthew of this new track’s origins: “While making ‘God Made Dirt’, Dan Only and I were inspired by various forms of psychedelic music like OutKast’s Stankonia, which we consider a psychedelic Hip-Hop classic. I felt moved to write about sexual liberation as a source of personal power and alignment with the divine. To me, that was best illustrated in story form.”
Narrating the scene of an orgy, the Dan Only (River Tiber, a l l i e) produced track, Matthew offers a detailed, first-person description of the encounter. The track’s chorus is a philosophical call to action, urging listeners to, when possible, choose love (or sex) over violence. Over the course of three minutes, Matthew urges listeners to unlearn and rid themselves of unhealthy doctrine they’ve been taught about owning one’s sexuality and body.
‘Digital Underground’ marks the third single release from Matthew’s full length debut album God Made Dirt (Pirates Blend) that will hit streaming services and digital retailers on 24th November. Composed of nine tracks, the project is a lyric-forward multi-genre mosaic that toggles between abstract hip-hop, punk, electronica, trap and psychedelic influences. The entire album has been produced in collaboration with Dan Only. Through an apocalyptic end-of-days lens, God Made Dirt explores the internal human dialogue between the divine and the primal self. On this intuitive journey through an ominous and gritty dimension – Earth 2023 – Progress rejects doctrine and fully embraces human complexity. He invites listeners to align with ancestors in the cosmos, resist authoritarianism, prepare for inevitable violence, claim sexual liberation while celebrating death and decay.
Listen to ‘Digital Underground’ below, out today (8th November) across various music platforms…
Taken from her new EP, ‘Securely Detached’ ELIF DAME‘s latest single ‘Celexa (Buy Me Time)’ sees the Amsterdam-based singer/songwriter opens up about hitting rock bottom and weighing up the options of going on medication.
Released 27th october across various music platforms, ‘Securely Detached’ also features songs such as ‘How to Self-Care’ and ‘Self-Care Pt. II’ where Dame admits to not being able to fulfill her primary needs as a basic means of maintaining her stability and consequently facing a never ending cycle of healing and self-sabotage. Singles ‘Grandmothers Fault’ and ‘Good Friend’ both of which speak about the songwriters struggles with unhealthy relationships in her life, as well as ‘Nature of the Beast’ where the artist realizes that addiction is a family disease.
Having garnered nearly half a million streams for her debut single, Elif Dame (meaning she who brings light) is heading in the right direction, with the EP setting to take her to new heights, as she connects with listeners around the world with her beautifully honest and vulnerable music. Have a listen to ‘Celexa (Buy Me Time)’ below…
Step aside for fierce genre-bending artist TANA, as she makes no apologies for her flappable confidence in brand new track, ‘Face Value’. The loaded bass also encourages us to unapologetically step into our power and let that confidence shine, blinding naysayers who has a lesser opinion of you.
Aim to “be real and be a voice for others”, Tana is heavily influenced by the rich and diverse views on the gay culture. Her song ‘Savage’ was signed to Sony US & Babygrande records (also featured on the A3C compilation album). Showcasing her unique flair for lyrics & melody, the London-based artist has written for Chinese artist ‘Jike Junyi’. Tana’s tracks have been championed by ‘Gay Times’, following her recent main stage performance at UK Black Pride 2022 where she performed in front of 25,000 people.
In addition, Tana has played NXNE Festival, Tallin Music Week, and London Pride, as well as being featured on BBC introducing, Reprezent Radio, Soho Radio, Pulse 88, Gaydio and Trace Urban, and many numerous publications such as Earmilk, and AnR Factory.
‘Face Value’ was released last Friday (27th October) across various music platforms. Why not jump start your weekend and have a listen below…
London-based BLISS WILLIAMS’ first memories of music are the tapes of 60s pop and soul his parents kept in the car when he was little. This early introduction to timeless songwriting from the likes of The Beach Boys, not to mention all those Motown classics, left an indelible mark. A few years later, he received a guitar for his birthday, starting a lifelong love affair with music-making.
Fast-forward to 2023 and Williams is releasing soulful songs on Colorama Records, a small independent label run by Paul Weller bassist Andy Crofts. His tunes have been championed by John Kennedy on Radio X and Gary Crowley on the BBC, while recent single ‘A Thousand Times Before’ (featuring Weller drummer Ben Gordelier) was playlisted by Spotify.
Now he returns with new single ‘The Sequence’, an seriously infectious neo-soul head-bopper with a soft psychedelic twist. Check it out below…
New Lease Music 