KIANA CORLEY‘s latest heartfelt EP, ‘Take it or Leave it,’ tells a story of reflecting on new love, break ups, lost love, and self reflection; a kind of reflection that can only be gained when you take a step back from that relationship. Kiana delivers the aforementioned themes in a wholesome soulful voice – a cross-between Sade and Corinne Bailey Rae – where she’s not backwards in coming forward in telling the truth.
Sonically, the five-track set goes on a journey through many different musical styles – from upbeat ukulele- infused pop to funk. Highly motivated by helping and inspiring others, through her authentically original music, Kiana hopes this EP will help with the healing process of anyone who had to go through a hard breakup.
So if you’ve just come out of a messy relationship, it’s time to start the healing process; have a listen to Kiana’s soothing EP below…
Introducing singer/songwriter STACEY PIERRE into NEW LEASE MUSIC’s hot seat – and on your music radar. The emerging artist has hooked up with UK Garage producer Obsidian Cane for track, ‘Body Talk’, taken from his EP Reset. Obsidian Cane was one of the key players in the UKG movement back in the nineties who scored a hit with club filler, ‘I Need A Rhythm’ as UKG duo KP, alongside fellow producer Paul Benjamin.
So get acquainted with this UK talentas she dishes up her next move for the rest of the year and her coping mechanism during the pandemic…
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How’s 2020 treating you so far?
SP: Thank you so much for having me! Considering the circumstances, it actually hasn’t been too bad. There were a few projects that have been put on hold, but this has given me time that I didn’t realise I needed to focus on myself and get a plan in place for my career moving forward.
NLM: Your single ‘Body Talk’ was released under Obsidian Cane’s UKG EP, ‘Reset’ in August. What sparked the collaboration?
SP: The idea of us collaborating came up after I applied to a job he posted online. We both saw the potential in each other and decided to stay in touch. The working relationship grew from there.
NLM: What’s the public’s reception on ‘Body Talk’?
SP: I’ve had really good feedback so far! Two things that keep coming up are my voice and the drop that introduces the second verse. It’s very different from my style as a solo artist so I’m really happy that my listeners are engaging with this collab.
NLM: What was it like working with Obsidian Cane, one of the figureheads of the UKG movement back in the nineties?
SP: Well, I when we first started making plans towards working together, I could tell he knew his craft and had experience, but it was a revelation to me once he started taking in more depth about the things he had accomplished. He’s truly excellent at what he does and it’s an honour to be working wit him.
NLM: Are there any plans to work with Obsidian in the future?
SP: 100 per cent, we are working on new music as we speak! This collaboration has really opened my eyes to the possibilities when branching out into new genres. I’m so grateful for his patience and willingness to allow my style to shine through in the music.
NLM: Do you have other musical projects on the go?
SP: Yes I do. I’m working on a solo project, a second EP. A follow up to my first; EDEN. I can be a bit of a perfectionist, so things sometimes take a little longer than they should, but I figure if I’m sharing a piece of myself with the world, why not take the extra time to make sure it’s something I’m proud of.
NLM: How has the current climate (CoVid19 pandemic) and lockdown affected you as an artist?
SP: A few jobs musical opportunities have been put on hold, which is frustrating but as I mentioned in my first answer, it has given me the time to re-evaluate myself as an artist. There have been many times before the pandemic where I would see others progression and feel that I should be doing more, which would actually halt my growth, but this space has given me the opportunity to realise that everyone’s journey is different and I should just focus on enjoying mine.
NLM: What advice would you give to new artists who are trying to get noticed in these challenging times?
SP: I would say, firstly think outside of the box. The market is saturated with new music, so be true to yourself and don’t follow the crowd. Be pro-active but smart, if you can build a support network of trusted people to help motivate you and even share tasks based on each others strengths, it will help ease any pressure and keep ideas fresh. And lastly, always have your reasons as to WHY you’re doing this. There will be times when its very hard or unfruitful, but when you are grounded in your reasons it will help you through.
NLM: How can potential fans contact you?
SP: People can get in touch via social media:- Instagram, Facebook or Twitter @spierremusic and I also have a website http://www.staceypierremusic.com
NLM: Finally, if music did not exist, what profession would you do?
SP: Firstly, that would suck! But, I would certainly do something artistic, the thought of spending the day in an office makes me want to cry! So either an artist or wood worker- anything that would allow me to create.
Steeped in heartache and bravado, ‘Home’ finds TALITHA FERRI caught between the sweet surrender of love and the inability to move beyond her own trauma. Held in an intimate embrace of another, both parties endlessly pursue and resist one another. The singer strips down for her lover, asking him to lie with her, but not to touch. She begs him to hold her, but to keep his distance.
‘Home’ is an exploration of the fear of – and the craving for – intimacy. The age old dance between two lovers bound together by the sacred oath of an unspoken agreement: not to ruin a perfect friendship with love. The gentle flutter of an aching heart, longing to heal, to hold, and be held.
‘Home’ is the first single off Talitha Ferri’s debut album ‘Get Well Soon’, a personal project turned concept album.
MICHAEL BAKER‘s first release of the year, ‘They Look Just Like They Know’, is a stirring acoustic piece of delicately plucked strings, rich reverb and cinematic movements, all of which steers the listener’s attention to Baker’s tender vocals and penchant for storytelling.
As with previous single, ‘Baby Books’, the Brighton songwriter once again turns to the subject of mental health, signified by the line “the mind can be a deadly place,” which Baker sheds further light on in the quote below:
“I wrote ‘They Look Just Like They Know’ when I had moved to Brighton after spending a couple of years of living in my Van and moving around. This song is a melancholic ponder on both the comfort and discomfort of memories, and how sometimes, in the darker times, your own home can feel strange and unfamiliar. It’s the difference between feeling at home in your mind, and feeling trapped in it.”
‘They Look Just Like They Know’ also follows previous single ‘Past The Evening’, which was premiered by Clash Magazine, who described it as “a tender return, showcasing the songwriter’s deftness of touch, and his gilded use of colour.”
Previous support for Michael Baker has come from BBC 6 Music , Youtube and Spotify Tastemaker Alex Rainbird with ‘One God Damn’, The Independent with single ‘The Steady & The Stuck’, and was selected for BBC Introducing London’s Artist of the Week . Michael also supported Sarah Jarosz at Union Chapel, performed at the inaugural Black Deer Festival and completed a UK and European tour back in November 2019.
Following singles ‘One God Damn’ and ‘Baby Books’, the Bright-based artist MICHAEL BAKER reveals another piece of empathic songwriting in ‘Past The Evening’ from his forthcoming album, ‘Salt’ out next year.
This time around, not only are we treated to the Anglo-French musician’s serene soundscape, but also his authentic performance style which shows Baker as someone deeply connected to his craft. Sonically rich throughout, ‘Past The Evening’ is connected to one of Baker’s personal life moments.
Speaking of the intimate release, Baker says: “I remember that feeling of listening to vinyl records and how an album can fill a room. In this song I talk about listening to ‘Ring Of Fire’ by Johnny Cash in my university days as it was one of the first vinyls I got at an old charity shop. The music industry can feel like an uphill struggle, but this track is about remembering why I got into music in the first place, a reminder to sow down enough to keep enjoying the process. This song is my realisation that I don’t think I’ll ever stop making music. Maybe not for everyone else, but just for me.”
Check out the lyric video below and sing along to Baker’s nostalgic single…
New Lease Music 