Masego Puts The Soul Into Christmas With Classic, ‘Favorite Things’

Grammy-nominated artist MASEGO puts a trap jazz spin on the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein song, ‘Favorite Tings,’ which was first heard in The Sound of Music and has since become a holiday staple.

Masego, who has amassed over two billion combined global streams in his career to date, recently earned his first GRAMMY nomination. Studying Abroad: Extended Stay (EQT Recordings/Capitol Records), the deluxe edition of his acclaimed EP, is nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album. The collection includes the hit ‘Mystery Lady’ featuring Don Toliver, plus the beautifully reimagined ‘Mystery Lady (Sego’s Remix).’ Combined global streams of ‘Mystery Lady’ have soared past the 150 million mark.

He’ll kick off 2022 with a sold-out, four-night stand at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. Rosehardt will open at the January 6 and 7 shows. Devin Morrison, who collaborated with Masego on the recent single ‘Yamz,’ will perform as special guest at the January 8 and 9 shows. Masego will launch a headline tour of Europe and the U.K.. on February 11 in Warsaw. The run will wrap up at London’s O2 Brixton on March 13. Mereba will support on all dates.

‘Favorite Tings’ completes the trio of celebratory singles released by Masego in recent months. Released in October, ‘Garden Party’ ft. Big Boi and JID, has amassed 3.2 million combined streams and was praised by NPR as “a lush neo-soul single that unveils wonderland.” November brought ‘Yamz’ with Devin Morrison, which is climbing the Mediabase R&B chart and creating a buzz on Shazam. VIBE said, “‘Yamz’ demands the attention of R&B purists,” and went on to praise “the duo’s sultry singing and the song’s seductive production.” .

Masego is a singular talent and surprising presence who cites 1930s Harlem big bandleader Cab Calloway as a guiding spirit and was mentored by DJ Jazzy Jeff. His 2018 debut album, ‘Lady, Lady’, included the breakout hit single ‘Tadow.’ With more than one billion combined global streams, the song is certified Platinum in the U.S., Diamond in Brazil and Gold in Mexico.

‘Favorite Things’ was released last Friday (10th December) via EQT Recordings/Capitol Records. This will definitely kickstart your festive season…check out the visualizer below…

Tarah Who? Calls Out The Music Industry With Upcoming Single, ‘Push Me’

After watching The Grammys in 2020, TARAH WHO? noticed the presence of rock acts, particularly female-fronted rock bands, were non-existent, and this weighed heavy on her mind for some time.

Tarah Who? was gobsmacked when she listened to some of the rock band’s views of the changes in the current music industry. This is when Tarah Who? reached boiling point and couldn’t sit on the issue anymore – so she took action.

The result is her upcoming single, ‘Push Me’, which she wrote with YUR MUM, who is also featured in the production. Using her unorthodox and non-conformist style and in-your-face, raw lyrics, Tarah Who? uses this single to call out the music industry by speaking up for the mispresented – rock acts, female-fronted rock bands, and independent musicians who work around the clock to get their music some attention.

A plea to the music industry, Tarah Who? hopes their upcoming single will shake up the misrepresentation within the scene, so rock bands, female-fronted rock bands, and struggling independent and unsigned artists can get fair attention from prospective fans- and also make it to the Grammys!

‘Push Me’ is slated for release next Friday (17th December) on various digital music platforms – so please look out for that. But for now, get a taste of Tarah Who?’s previous releases below…

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Q7WuoNQUT5rfvo83edxNR

Selci Shares Video For Latest Single, ‘Ghost’

Canadian art-pop artist SELCI released her latest single ‘Ghost,’ accompanied by a stunning visual directed by the artist herself. ‘Ghost’ offers a first taste into what will be a fruitful 2022, as Selci puts the finishing touches on a two-part album project, details of which will be announced next month.

Discussing her latest offering, Selci noted that, “it’s about being ghosted – literally and figuratively. The first verse is about the elusiveness of truth. This feels augmented in our current reality with the lack of trustworthy sources and the influx of political conspiracies. The second is about being ghosted by a love interest and washing it away with liquor. The third is an outcry – it gives me the feeling of falling to my knees in surrender to the things that I cannot control in this life. This song is very much a response to the political climate of the past two years. It takes the laments of modern life and compares them to ghosts.”

For Selci, the pairing of music to the visual, is a natural extension of expression. “The video for ‘Ghost’ recreates famous 19th century paintings of mythological women,” she noted. “In contemporary styling we recreated Charles Mengin’s ‘Sappho’, Waterhouse’s ‘Echo and Narcissus’, and Mallais’ ‘Ophelia’. Contemporary dancers dance like ghosts in front of giant human-like statues in Calgary, known as ‘The Brotherhood of Mankind’. In its time, it was created as a celebration of colonization, framing it as a gift to the rest of the world – a dated and simply incorrect view of colonization, and continued harm it has brought to Indigenous peoples.

Continuing with that theme, the scenes of women dancing in red dresses is an intended nod of awareness to the inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada. The final scene – featuring a woman, apple in hand, being clutched by another hand from below, is a commentary on the Garden of Eden, and forced assimilation into the Catholic Church.”

‘Ghost’ follows Selci’s September single ‘Type and Send.’ The two tracks show the versatility and dynamic range of Selci’s sonic palette. And with a two-part album set for 2022, the Selci is ready to take on the world.

Why not check out the epic video for the single below…

Doug Ferony Get Us In The Mood For Xmas, With ‘Jingle Bells’

As it’s just over two weeks to Christmas, I thought I’ll sparkle some festive magic here on NEW LEASE MUSIC…and to help us to reignite that spirit of goodwill, is singer DOUG FERONY, who re-released his version of a classic we all know – and perhaps very fond of… ‘Jingle Bells.’

The American crooner puts a cheerful big band feel to the Christmas song, possessing a vocal range similar to big band favourites, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, which really gives the two-minute production a classy and perhaps a golden Hollywood glow.

Doug Ferony’s version of ‘Jingle Bells’ is originally from his 2007 festive album, appropriately titled, ‘It’s Christmas’. The 11 track-album features even more Christmas classics such as ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’, ‘Let It Snow’, and ‘Jingle Bell Rock.’ Ferony pulls out all the stops to create that perfect family gathering at Xmas, through his smooth croons which works perfectly in unison with the upbeat live instrumentation.

So get a taste of Ferony’s album, ‘It’s Christmas’ by listening to ‘Jingle Bells’ below…

Gabrielle Metz Bares All In Emotive Single, ‘More Hearts Than Mine’

GABRIELLE METZ shows her vulnerable side in her cover of Ingrid Andress’ ‘More Hearts Than Mine’, where the young songstress grabs the listener’s attention from the very first note, right to the end with her sometimes gritty vocal combined with her emotional delivery. The deliberately honest lyrics are perfectly conveyed with the silvery vocals from Metz matched with a beautifully simplistic piano line.

“The first time I listened to Ingrid’s song I was immediately transported into her world and felt a deep connection to the lyrics. I typically do not record covers but I have been itching to record this song since 2019.” – Gabrielle Metz

Gabrielle has been nominated for Alabama Music Awards Best Female Country in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. She has also been nominated for Alabama Music Awards Best New Artist in 2018 and 2019. Gabrielle is also on Country Sways 2021 Artist to Watch.

Have a listen to Gabrielle’s stunning cover below…