Hailing from Montreal, RAVEEN as a trio has flourished into a united entity since releasing their debut full-length ‘Always’ in 2017. The record marks their foray into more subdued, lush songwriting and a grandiose approach to arrangement with orchestral strings, choir work and field recording. Live performances are evocative of Jeff Buckley’s dynamic peaks-and-valleys approach, while blending electronics and live instrumentation in new, innovative ways. Their releases are consistent markers of growth, with more on the way in the coming year.
The group’s latest single and resurgent return after the pandemic era setbacks with ‘In The Middle,’ a driving and emotive track. “This song tries to provide a snapshot of the emotions we feel in those moments when love and growth fight for dominance in our lives.” -Eric Segun
LA-based alt-R&B trailblazer FREX returns with her latest single ‘Postcards’, released via Island Records. Textured, intimate and self-reflective; ‘Postcards’ is a delicate diary entry that sees her reminiscing over a fading relationship while deciding whether to move on and give up hope on it ever getting better.
Speaking on the single, frex said: “I wanted to keep being vulnerable during my process. Before you decide to move on, you’re deciding whether or not to give up all hope. Even though it’s a bad situation, you’re reminiscing.”
Known for her unique melodies and candid storytelling, frex is an artist to watch that is carving her own path and putting human connection at the forefront of her genre-blending artistry. Pulling inspiration from R&B, pop, jazz, classic rock, and more, frex uses her music to process her feelings and experiences, and push boundaries with the hope that her artistry helps others embrace their own vulnerability and overcome what they’re going through. Raised in a small town in Pennsylvania and now residing in LA, the rising talent is ready to bring her sound to a global stage.
The new single arrives on the heels of ‘Hoodie Back,’ an unbothered vibe that flips the script on the classic story of someone keeping a memento following the end of a relationship. Speaking to frex’s unique perspective on love and allowing yourself to be broken-hearted but not a victim with lyrics that cut deep, ‘Hoodie Back’ received acclaim from Billboard (calling her their “freshest find”), UPROXX, and more. The song followed frex’s breakthrough, viral hit ‘Oxford Circus’ – which debuted in the Spotify Viral 50 upon release and has racked up over 17 million streams on Spotify alone – and recent single ‘Forever Thing,’ a dreamy, breathy confession whose synths murmur through a glitchy beat which heralded her new chapter.
frex is fresh from supporting Alina Baraz on her US tour this Autumn and made her UK live debut this summer performing at All Points East Festival and a headline show at London’s ‘Folklore’, with support from the likes of Spotify, Billboard, Wordplay Magazine and more – stay tuned for more from this bubbling talent. but for now, listen to ‘Postcards’…
JESSICA WILDE‘s video for latest single, ‘Freak Out’, mirrors the song’s message of stepping into your power and following the call of spirit.
Musically, the track sizzles with bass loaded, rhythm inflected dirty alt-Hip hop / pop vibes, with Wilde’s candid and intelligent rap lyrics weaving around infectiously. Produced by Wilde herself, with atmospheric snappy percussion flourishing and quirky vocal samples scattered throughout making a truly unique sound with the distinctive finishing touch of co-production by Tom Maine (WU-LU, Kid Cruise).
‘Freak Out’, which has been picked up for plays on BBC 6 Music’s New Music Fix and BBC Radio 1’s Future Artists, is the first single of a powerful forthcoming album project from Wilde, which features some of the most insanely talented artists on the rise- Josh Barry (Nile Rodgers / Rudimental), Zoe Kypri (Black Coffee) and James Newman (Writer of Brit award winning song ‘Waiting all night’ by Rudimental’).
So let your inner freak out and watch the video below…
With radio and editorial support from the likes of Jamz Supernova of BBC 1Xtra acclaim, US publication Ones To Watch, NTS, Dummy, KissFM, Wordplay Magazine and Wonderland, it is clear that the eyes and ears of the music industry are firmly on the nascent R&B superstar JOHN ALONE . After over a year of teasing and speculation, the trailblazing alternative artist has finally released his latest full length effort, ‘No one is coming to save you’.
The 18-track collection goes on the journey of love and isolation, loss and salvation, while proudly answers the cry for uniqueness and individuality in a sea of ever evolving musical norms that will be appeal to fans of Frank Ocean and The Weeknd.
‘No one is coming to save you’ is as multi-layered and unfiltered as the artist himself. John has left no stone unturned, no feeling unexplored and no theme undiscussed, choosing to bare it all for his growing fanbase. Why not check it out below…
Must Listens: go2hell, indira, PLACE, faawud, Lord’s Prayer,what a life
Hailing from New York City, JOVIAN‘s new debut album, ‘JOVIAN 2000 AD’, was inspired by his fascination with 70s and 80s sci-fi films. “I thought about how that alternate future would have sounded and created this body of work with that in mind!” He explains.
The ten-track throwback-futuristic album was first introduced to music lovers around the world with the single, I’m Ready’. The breathtakingly beautiful song was written by Jovian and Kay’vion and produced by Jovian and Blood Cultures.
It was then followed by the infectious “LASER DISCS.” “Laser Discs,” was the perfect alignment as the song came to be exactly when I had decided I wanted my album to be half R&B/80s Synth and half Hip-Hop,” mentions Jovian. “Overall it’s about begging for someone to see your perspective despite them being unwilling to, or maybe incapable of doing so! Despite that, the memories that were shared are still something to hold dear,” he adds.
However, it was the eighth offering ‘Oceans’ that sealed the direction of the album: “Oceans, was the first song I happened to write for the album once I discovered the direction I wanted to take my first body of work! It’s about a plea to the moon. Being in love with something you cannot attain, no matter how much you may desire it,” Jovian shares. The song was written by Jovian and produced by YZ,
‘JOVIAN 2000 AD.’ is out now via the December Records/SRG-ILS Group label imprint. Why not check it out below…
Must Listens: Ready, Guava, Oceans, Where’d U Go, Sha’s Outro
New Lease Music 