Song of the Day: Hush – BLXSS

Perth-based artist BLXSS originally from New Zealand draws heavily from his Zimbabwean heritage. Starting his musical journey from an early age BLXSS grew up around a musically inclined family and began uploading tracks on SoundCloud at the age of 15 while developing his unique style of music. BLXSS fuses different forms of Afrobeat and traditional hip-hop by combining the rhythm and heart-tugging nature of Afro music with the technical rhyme schemes and wordplay found in hip-hop and R&B; formulating a style that encourages you to feel the music rather than just listen to it.

His single ‘Hush’ follows on from his previous releases ‘Jiggy’ and ‘Can’t Deny’ and continues exploring the unique style that BLXSS has grown into over the past few years. This single will be the first collaboration between the Perth rapper and new independent Sydney label samesame records – a brand new imprint on the ADA/Warner roster – where he will join stablemates DoloRRes and Muka Vhatti.

‘Hush’ delivers a tongue-in-cheek commentary of the ‘playboy lifestyle’ so beloved of the hip-hop community, espousing the benefits of casual relationships and his own code-of-conduct. “When I kiss, I don’t tell”. “I wrote this song to highlight my very private lifestyle,” explains BLXSS “whether it’s my business or my relationships, I like to keep my circle small and loyal. So if I do decide to venture out of my circle for any reason, I prefer to have that business kept between us. This song perfectly represents how I prefer to “Keep it on the Hush Hush”.

BLXSS has teamed up with local Perth videographer Brendan Cecich to bring the music video for ‘Hush’ to life. Check it out below…

Song of the Day: Loving You (So High) – Freddie Future

Rising dance-pop musician FREDDIE FUTURE‘s single, ‘Loving You (So High)’ released via Physical Presents is gently lifting, thanks to its ,melodic and shimmering style and caressing basslines, where the Toronto-based artist bathes his light vocals in fresh electronic tones.

Freddie Future says of the single: “’Loving You (So High)’ was the first track written for this new project, and instantly I knew there was something special here. The song is about being so consumed with a desire for someone that their love feels like the best drug you could ever have. It’s that ultimate state of euphoria you feel when you truly love that person. The song started with a few vibey chords but really came together once the catchy vocal hook was made. “I get so high off loving you. So high, so high, so high”.”

Over the years, Freddie Future has been supported by noteworthy publications, including CLASH Magazine, Exclaim!, Variance Magazine, Northern Transmission, Toronto Guardian and Canadian Beats. With over 2.6 million plays across platforms, the artist has been featured on the Youtube channel MrSuicideSheep numerous times as well as on Spotify’s New Music Friday Canada, Fresh Finds and Just Vibing, Outliers playlists.

Here’s your chance to check the video for the single below…

Song Of The Day: What’s Perfect? – Grace Ami

Japan-born songstress Grace GRACE AMI presents lo-fi single ‘What’s Perfect?’ paired with a soulful and spirited vocal display. Grace’s jazzy intonation practically hovers above the bedroom-style beat as her delivery melts into a delicate groove.

‘What’s Perfect?’ arrives on the heels of her 2021 debut EP PICNIC, which amassed over one million streams. Merging the intimacy and imagination of bedroom-pop with the lush and languid grooves of R&B, PICNIC includes previously released singles like ‘True Feelings (a sweetly melancholy piece laced with bluesy acoustic guitar work), and ‘My Eyes’ (a piano-driven song that landed on Apple Music’s New in Pop playlist). In addition, PICNIC opens with Grace’s debut single “Eternal Sunshine,” a gorgeously quirky meditation on the meaning of happiness. All throughout the EP, Grace shows her gift for crafting unforgettable melodies, as well as her soft and subtle but endlessly commanding vocal presence.

Why not check out the video for the trance-like video below…

Song of the Day: Summertime Love – iLana Armida

Los Angeles-based pop icon, iLANA ARMIDA, gives a refreshing new rendition of a love story as old as time on her single, ‘Summertime Love.’ Having written music for several popular artists, including Doja Cat, Etana, and Common Kings, and performing alongside Lil’ Dicky and John K, iLana Armida definitely has the experience and know-how to create the next big pop track, which she undoubtedly will do with her upcoming single of many to come.

Opening with a slow build that grows into a smooth, wavy sound that really sets the tone for the rest of this summer vibed song. The vocal melody perfectly complements the airy synths and thumping bass sounds to create a sound that instantly makes you feel as if you’re driving in a convertible on a warm summer day or relaxing on the sandy beaches of California.

‘Summertime Love’ showcases the dedication to craft that has seen iLana wrack up over 7.6m Spotify streams on song writes, while sonically riffing on her trademark optimistic and joyful vibe. Have a listen to the mesmeric single below…

Song of the Day: Ziamonds – ATO

ATO claims the song of the day spot for the second time with single ‘ziamonds !!’, which touches heavily on mental health and healing to move forward.

Speaking on the track, ‘ziamonds!!’, ATO says, “I have found the power of the imagination to be vital to rediscovering myself. You can learn a lot from things that are not real. When I wrote “ziamonds !!”, I was in a dark and confused state. The song blurs the line between reality and fantasy. It makes light of living with mental health issues and finds a silver lining to begin painting something brighter and forward-facing.”

A follow up to the experimental, genre-flipped offering, ‘no caroline’, ‘ziamonds!!’ is taken from his new EP, ‘Side A’. Check out the official video below…