Berlin-based, Indian artist and producer, JOHNNY KULO is the bridge between old-school soul and modern R&B. The son of a reverend, he was inevitably playing drums in church before he could form sentences, exploring several other instruments until eventually realizing his love for songwriting and production. He uses his sultry-smooth voice to tell personal and perceived stories of love, heartbreak and unsettled identity.
An ode to choosing ignorance, his latest single, ‘Poseidon’ revolves around asking questions about past relationships, through a rhetorical sentiment. It explores the feelings of arrogance and confidence that arise after one gain’s hindsight overtime in regards to their past. The track also portrays an overall sense of apathy for the future stemming from exhaustion. Have a listen below…
Ok guys, here’s your chance to check out the Top Ten Albums of 2021 – and I have to say, this is a pretty dope list! I hope you think so too, so enjoy!
Be sure to check out NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Songs of 2021 tomorrow.
FLYGHT CLUB‘s latest single, ‘Quaalude’ narrates succumbing to a moment of weakness and regrettably ending up hurting someone who you love dearly. The accompanying music video further portrays this story, with the artist confiding:
“I came up with a story where a guy is left to himself as his girlfriend goes on a work trip. Seeing this as an off day, he agrees to meet up with his college buddy and go partying. Before hitting the club, they decide to take quaaludes. The guy ends up meeting a girl and going over to her place before blacking out. The guy wakes up the next day with no memory of the previous night and feeling guilty about having cheated on his girlfriend. He finds himself tied to a bed. The girl from the night before turns out to be a satanist and plans to sacrifice the guy for a ritual. I found this situation so interesting to write about as it also brought in instant karma and crazy repercussions to cheating.”
This lapse of judgment is conveyed through sensual instrumentation reminiscent of The Weeknd. Featuring vocals from fellow artist Brandt, ‘Quaalude’ emits a laid back, sluggish vibe. A slightly off-beat ticking sound that plays throughout the track represents being under the influence of a slow sedative drug such as a Quaalude, where time flows slower and switches pulses, leading to a false sensation of two separate streams of time flowing simultaneously.
Flyght Club is the contemporary musical project of Indian artist Shauvik Sharan. Having moved to Los Angeles to pursue his music career, Flyght Club’s music demonstrates his extreme versatility, exploring a multitude of genres and themes, with every song being made to cater to different moods and emotions, essentially leaving him unchained from the boundaries of musical genres.
Originally from Pune, India, Sharan grew up on classic rock artists such as Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton and Pink Floyd, all of which contributed to his strong foundation in music and inspired him to pick up and master the guitar. His time spent in Los Angeles allowed him to master the art of production and engineering, as well as singing and songwriting, shaping him as the artist he is today.
Watch the official video for the dreamy single below…
I really admire Japanese singer/songwriter RIKU – whose name means insanity and unite – for using his quirky sound (which may appear fun on the surface) to deliver hard-hitting issues that exist in today’s society and gets the listener thinking about how these issues may potentially affect one’s mental wellbeing. In his latest single, ‘Rin-Pun,’ he challenges the listener to go on a journey to question the perception of beauty.
Among the raging guitar riffs (which is so soul-satisfying) paired with bitter-sweet vocals, ‘Rin Pun’ tells a story of a lady who feels she does not live up to society’s perfection of beauty and will do whatever it takes to squash any insecurities she may experience.
Vulnerable yet beautifully raw, which mirrors the sad reality many women face today, ‘Rin Pun’ is now available across various music platforms. Have a listen to the thought-provoking piece below…
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