London’s rapidly ascending RnB firebrand soulstress, THAI CHI ROSÈ, struck sensuous gold with her latest single, ‘Cumfort’.
While her soft vocal lines, which echo 90s nostalgia, drench the production in tender elegance and serenity, the energy she projected through her performance emanates an indomitable essence, ensuring the lyricism resounds with maximum impact and conviction.
Thai chi Rosè’s British Jamaican accent sets the track apart, adding an exotic and heartfelt depth to her sound, which harmoniously blends cultures and eras; ‘Cumfort’ carries the warmth and soul of the golden age of RnB while remaining distinctly modern in its execution. The allure of ‘Cumfort’ is only amplified through the seamless integration of Patois while remaining firmly in the RnB territory. For fans of Aaliyah, Mini Rippleton, and Adina Howard, this meeting of the vibrancy of Jamaican sonic culture and contemporary innovation is an essential playlist staple.
“Cumfort is about wanting to have sex but not be a priority to someone.” – Thai chi Rosè.
The idea for ACTION FOREVER‘s latest single, ‘In The Dead of Night,’ was to bluntly reflect on the obvious downsides of being in a long distance relationship – not being able to hold your partner in your arms, look into their eyes, or hear their voice next to you.
Frontman Sim Bansal confides: “I was in a relationship a bit like that. Later, I realized after I went over some of the lines, like “be a shoulder for the secret pain inside” and “I feel my heart begin to break in two until the moment I hear back from you,” I started to believe that the seed for the song, in part, came from a feeling of co-dependence. When I looked back at what I’d written – in the moment, sort of quickly and instinctively – those lyrics struck me as more troubled than romantic.“
The semi-autobiographical character in the song is very much distressed. He feels the tension between him and his partner and it’s unsettling.
Sim explains: “I wanted to make something upbeat and danceable to accentuate this feeling of stress and urgency. I also tried to pick synthesizer sounds which seemed to have kind of a lonely quality. For example, the counter melodies in the second verse were inspired by those little musical carousel toys that play chimey lullabies.”
MUMU FRESH sings directly from the heart with ‘My Why’, which she describes as “a tribute to that person(s), place, or thing in your life that is your ‘WHY’”. The impassioned single is from her forthcoming LP The Healing, which will feature DJ Jazzy Jeff, 14KT, DJ Dummy, & more, & comes out on 19th April.
Mumu Fresh, aka Maimouna Youssef, is a Grammy Nominated singer, songwriter and emcee, and recipient of the Indigenous Music, Washington Area Music (WAMMIE) & Urban World Music Video awards. She’s worked with Busta Rhymes, Common, Black Thought of The Roots, Tobi Nwigwe & more, & has two NPR Tiny Desk performances under her belt.
Mumu also co-created the Recording Academy’s “Best Song For Social Change” trustee award, which went live in 2023 at the 66th Grammy Awards & was presented by The First Lady, Jill Biden.
Why not check out the lyric video to ‘My Why’ below…
D POWER DIESLE is back with a bang, dropping the sizzling second single from his upcoming EP project ‘Graphene 4’. Featuring renowned Nottingham emcee, Wariko and produced by Audio Slugs, this grime banger calls back to the notorious LOTM3 clash carrying the same electrifying energy.
After crossing paths on the mighty clash series ‘Lord Of The Mics’ Volume 3 back in 2011, the pair were pinned up against eachother producing one the most memorable clashes in the UK Grime scene. Lauded by top artists, industry giants, and global music lovers alike, this dynamic duo reunite in ‘Start This’, recapturing the raw energy of their legendary basement clash.
Produced by Grime heavy hitters Audio Slugs, Diesle and Wariko ride the 140bpm beat going back to back, while gifting us with references from the famous battle. The chorus and verse integrate seamlessly, with the London and Nottingham accents playing off each other harmoniously.
Gearing up to release ‘Graphene 4’ this Spring, its prior three volumes were a masterstroke in Grime, garnering millions of streams, widespread acclaim across UK’s radio and press, and powerhouse collaborations with Grime’s biggest stars, including Skepta, D Double E, Manga St Hilare, and Big Narstie. Mark your calendars for D Power’s headline show at ‘The Hackney Social’ on Friday 3rd May, where he will be delivering a curated performance of tracks from the Graphene series.
A pioneer and veteran that many within Black British music praise, D Power Diesle is best known for his impact in the early grime days via Déjà vu, Rinse FM, and clashing with Wariko on Lord of the Mics 3. But it doesn’t stop there. Not only housing an impressive catalogue of music, Diesle has also toured with UK heavy-weight Skepta, Wiley, Jammer, and Modestep before outlining a reputation of his own. Flash forward to today, it’s a common discussion amongst UK rap about grime’s positioning in our current landscape, a topic of which not everyone agrees on. However, it’s artists like D Power Diesle that are still holding it up for those gritty, raw, and lively tracks that encapsulate the roots of London’s inner city. Taking his knowledge of the industry and putting it to good use, Diesle formed his own label EB Records that’s committed to guiding the up-and-coming artists of today down the right path. Check out the video below…
MOVINA‘s journey from contemplating a career in medicine to pursuing her passion for music is a testament to her unwavering dedication to her craft. Despite initially opting for a pragmatic approach by pursuing finance to support her musical aspirations, Movina’s heart ultimately led her back to her true calling.
With a background in both Carnatic and Western classical music, Movina brings a rich tapestry of sounds and influences to her work. Her upbringing, steeped in the melodies of legends like Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam, and A.R. Rahman, alongside icons such as Michael Jackson and Madonna, has shaped her distinctive musical style.
However, breaking into the mainstream music scene hasn’t been without its challenges. Movina acknowledges the competitive nature of the industry, especially as a South Asian artist navigating a predominantly Western market. Yet, she embraces her uniqueness as an asset, setting her apart from the crowd.
“I like the Indian beats and melodies. And it comes through in my music,” says Movina, whose love for her cultural heritage is evident in both her sound and aesthetic.
With ‘Hazy Baby,’ Movina invites us on a journey through her eclectic musical universe, where East meets West in a harmonious blend of sound and style. As she paves her own path, her star continues to rise, promising a future filled with endless possibilities.
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