Song of the Day: Menace – BXKS

Hailing from Northampton via Luton, BXKS is a sonic breath of fresh air in the UK rap scene. Her astonishingly quickfire bars and a slick, sharp assurance alongside genre bending and experimental beats full of dreamy samples are all heard through her single, ‘Menace’ produced by P-rallel.

Speaking on ‘Menace’ BXKS says: “Menace is a story about me. It’s about me being aware of my abilities and doing what needs to be done to accomplish my set goal – “please don’t play me”. It’s also a rhetorical question to the listeners :). The artwork (by cocoa juice) is based on “neon genesis” the anime.”

‘Menace’ forms part of BXKS’ debut mixtape ‘Full Time Daydreamer’ released on Friday, 11th June via Marathon Artists. Including previous singles ‘Packed In’ and ‘Work Like ft. KISH!’ which were widely supported by i-D, Target, Mary Anne Hobbs, Jamz Supernova and Rinse FM (playlisted twice), ‘Full Time Daydreamer’ is an eclectic eight-track “playful playlist” crafted mainly with producers TK and P-rallel, lyrically covering everything from rap brags to being broke, all with a bouncy, deft ease to her delivery, mirroring the fun escapist world BXKS wants the tape to represent.

Here’s your first taste to the mixtape; have a listen to ‘Menace’.

Song of the Day: Forgiveness – The High Breed

UK-based hip-hop collective THE HIGH BREED make their return to the scene with single “Forgiveness”, their first release of 2021. The track showcases the collective’s unique hip-hop style, effortlessly blending conscious, relatable lyricism with hypnotic, trap-infused production.

‘Forgiveness’ starts with an organ-inspired synth that instantly connects you to the song’s biblical theme, with the rolling drums and piercing hi-hats giving the song the punch it needs to deliver its weighty philosophical message.

Speaking more on the track, The High Breed say, “‘Forgiveness’ is an honest dialogue about what forgiveness truly means to the individual who has done wrong in a world full of self-denial. It is an expression and an acceptance of the ‘shadow self’, a vulnerable confession about the darker nature of our humanity and a poetic discourse on the morality of the human soul, highlighting the battle between virtue and temptation that no person throughout any age has ever been free from.”

Having gained traction with a string of releases last year, such as ‘Star Dwellers’ and ‘Meet the Gods’, and receiving support from BBC Introducing, the independent DIY collective are set to continue their momentum with single ‘Forgiveness’, now on all platforms.

Listen To Amir Brandon’s Debut Single, ‘Champagne’

Extraordinary vox and melodic sensibilities combine for Ottawa-born, Toronto-based pop singer/songwriter AMIR BRANDON and his debut single, ‘champagne’.

Serving as a preview to the Toronto-based artist and multi-instrumentalist’s forthcoming debut album, ‘Lonely Club’, ‘champagne’ achingly peels away Amir’s desire to ditch the bubbly in favour of dancing alone with his broken, pained heart. His authenticity as a melancholic man of sadness comes to life on the track, giving us a one-way ticket into uncharted loneliness.

On “champagne,” Amir takes creative licence, carving his own unique place in the rhythm and blues world. Dripping with charisma and eloquence from every note, his falsetto pierces the heart, while breathless runs solidify his dedication to drawing in the listener and holding them captive.

Having gained early accolades from chart-topping Billboard singer/songwriter JoJo, Amir Brandon has performed headlining showcases at Canadian Music Week, shared the stage with Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo, and amassed more than 2+ Million streams on YouTube for his stunning takes of R&B greats.

Heard across CBC, Netflix’s Cobra Kai, Disney’s PJ Masks, The Young & The Restless, Spotify’s New Music Friday, and more, he has also headlined the “We’re Funny That Way” LGTBQ Festival, Youth Day at Yonge & Dundas Square — as well as being featured as a singer/songwriter at the Toronto Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, and performer, songwriter, and co-producer for ‘Rapid-Eye Movement’ at Nuit Blanche and Summerworks Festival.

Enduring years of closed doors, homophobia, and fighting for artistic integrity only fuelled Amir Brandon’s creative fire, inspiring a striking sense of vulnerability and confidence in his songwriting. After much experimentation, self-discovery, and reinvention, his music stands as a testament to his resilience in the industry.

“champagne” is available now. Lonely Club is available Summer 2021. Check out the music for the single below…

I M U R Share Single ‘Birdseye’, Out Today

Consisting of singer/songwriter Jenny Lea, producer/guitarist Mikey J Blige, and producer/multi-instrumentalist Amine Bouzaher, genre bending trio I M U R has unveiled their reflective new single, ‘Birdseye,’ taken from their album, ‘My Molecules’ out this month, 25th June. The forthcoming project thematically touches on topics that everyone has experience with but that are often not discussed publicly, such as love, lust, loss, death, trauma and purpose.

Their offering takes inspiration from Lea’s near-death experience in a car accident and serves as a reminder that simply stepping back and taking a breath can be the difference between losing your mind and appreciating your day-to-day life.

Have a listen to ‘Birdseye’ below…

Song of the Day: Cruel – Jessica Wilde

The third single taken from Wilde’s debut album, out later this year, ‘Cruel’ signals her delving back into her first love, a toxic relationship that inspired a harnessing of her bisexual identity but also led her to addiction – a subject she’s tackling on her debut album.

Co-produced with producer Jay Nebular and Grammy award winning producer Kiris Houston who have worked heavily with the likes of The Disciples and Little Mix, ‘Cruel’ has a nice lazy summer haze 90’s classic hip-hop and R&B vibe where Jessica is at her most cutesy, sultry but equally dangerous as her lyrics offer a little sting in the tail. The official visual tracks Jess wandering South London, paying homage to a nostalgic look & flava, shot on disposable cameras and VHS, it gives an authentic feel, themed throughout the album. Check it out below