Vancouver alt-pop group LUDIC‘s single ‘Judge Me,’ the first release off their debut EP out in April 2022, marks the first time that guitarist Ayla Tesler-Mabe has joined bassist/lead vocalist Max Cunningham on vocals, to create a velvety smooth duet.
The song was written about feeling lonely in a relationship and feeling like you can’t do anything right; the constant effort to try and change is not working and is instead being met with more criticism by the other half.
‘Judge Me’ is a step forward for Ludic – while it retains the quirky and offbeat sound of their previous releases, there is an undeniable maturity that permeates their new work.
Why not check out the (slightly) new musical direction below…
Hailing from New York, avant-garde ‘Spectra Rock’ outfit SAVARRE’s latest single ‘Scars’ is a passionate ode for anyone who has bounced back stronger than ever from a traumatic experience. Savarre is fronted by multi-talented singer-songwriter, composer, playwright, and novelist Shannon Denise Evans, whose perfectly soaring vocal performance would deeply resonate with each and every one of us. The real message of the song there is not to look back on the bad experience with anger but to go forth with pride, proudly presenting the scars from that journey.
Shannon shares, “For me, the experiences that created my scars made me stronger, smarter, and more resilient. I wear my scars proudly now; they are markers on a path that led me back to myself.”
‘Scars’ is now available on all music platforms, including Spotify. Follow Savarre via Instagram to know more about them and upcoming ventures.
‘Pulling Me Closer’ marks the first single of 2022 from London based, singer, songwriter, poet and producer – AERIS ROVES . It follows on from 2021 records ‘Cairo’ and ‘Long Way Down’ which were well received after a 2 year hiatus.
Whilst ‘Cairo’ was about finding the gold in someone and ‘Long Way Down’ looked at the breakdown in communication during a relationship and the process of realigning with a partner – ‘Pulling Me Closer’ explores initial attraction and it’s unexpected intensity.
Speaking in more detail, Aeris reiterates “Pulling me closer – A song that started off as an unfinished acoustic idea on Instagram. It was shared by Billie Eilish. A trip to Los Angeles with Two Inch Punch offered the inspiration needed to finish the production. Thematically, it explores a situation of initial attraction, in that it’s unexpected and intense, pondering the fact that once it takes hold, it is very difficult to let go of.”
With influences deeply rooted in soul and modern R&B Aeris draws influence from The Drifters, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Majid Jordan and more. Growing up, Aeris would sing in local choirs gradually teaching himself guitar in his bedroom as an accompaniment.
His first commercial offering came in the form of a self-produced 2018 Soundcloud release, ‘Banks.’ The track garnered an initial buzz in the UK, quickly extending across the Atlantic where it was championed by US pop sensation Billie Eilish – She in turn invited him to support her on her European tour.
A successful run followed, cutting his live teeth and landing him a record deal with RCA where he released his debut LP ‘Moon By Island Gardens’ to much critical acclaim.
In 2020, with new label and management in tow, Aeris used lockdown to return to the studio to delve into a new body of work.
Stay tuned for the release of more singles from this guy…until then, have a listen to ‘Pulling Me Closer.’
Nigerian-British artist SHÀE UNIVERSE‘s exhilarating single ‘Pushin’, is a unique synergy of R&B and Drill, where Shae’s silky vocals blends in with delicate riffs, simmering 808’s and soaring synth patterns.
Speaking on the single, Shaé said: “Pushin’ was written with ease. It flowed so naturally because it was a subconscious premonition of certain relationships that would come to an end in my life. I didn’t know it at the time I wrote the song but soon enough I saw the coherence manifest in my life. Cheers to honouring your boundaries and dropping dead weight!”
Since bursting onto the scene in 2017, Shaé has made waves in the UK, West Africa and beyond, attracting heat from the likes of Wonderland, TRENCH, NOTION, New Wave Mag and more. Shaé makes music that engages, enchants and inspires. Shaé is an artist who can both sing and rap, has been co-signed by the likes of Kojey Radical, Ms Banks and Etta Bond, and has remained entirely independent – navigating the industry on her own terms.
Stay tuned for more this year from this blossoming R&B talent…but for now, have a listen to ‘Pushin’ below…
Infusing harmonic electro-pop beats with ethereal R&B vocals, CASSIE MARLIN’s ‘Every Time I See The Ocean’ is an evocative and captivating listen. Confronting the malaise of alienation, Cassie opens her heart to anyone who has ever felt misunderstood. It’s a song about searching for acceptance in a world where people expect you to remain the same, finding comfort in change, and finding strength in the solitude and pain.
The title of the track — ‘Every Time I See The Ocean’ — is an ode to Cassie’s upbringing near the beach. Expanding on this, she says, “I didn’t have anyone to play with as a child, but somehow the ocean had a presence so strong I forgot about my feelings of loneliness when I would swim in it. I remember daydreaming underwater and using my imagination in ways that felt so close to magic. I felt I metamorphosed in there. To this day I really do change drastically when I visit the ocean, it’s like taking a vitamin that induces me to refresh and be deeply honest with myself. This song is that to me, a dip into an underwater daydream.“
Arriving on the heels of ‘Tanto’ and ‘Busy Body,’ ‘Every Time I See The Ocean’ is the newest glimpse of what to expect from Cassie’s forthcoming 2022 album. With these new songs, Cassie takes a propulsive leap with her songwriting, opening up about her most private battles and innermost thoughts. Instead of succumbing to self-indulgence and pity, she wields her hardships as a portal to empower and transform. “I started pursuing music as a career because of what music did and still does for me; it saves me every day,” she says. “I want my music to be there for anyone and everyone who needs it the way that music was there for me.”
Have a listen to ‘Every Time I See The Ocean’ below..
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