Song of the Day: Blinding – J Appiah (ft. Ruby Wood)

East London singer/songwriter J APPIAH, drops his latest single, ‘Blinding’ which gives is a frank examination of the musician’s interior anxieties with his developing career.

The record also acts as a cautionary tale and a creative expression of the mental labyrinths an artist passes through just trying to stay human in an industry that peddles idols and products. Reflecting his apprehension, ‘Blinding’ fuses a trace of Hip-Hop, shades of blues and gospel emanating from his soulful vocal delivery, beautifully assisted by Submotion Orchestra’s Ruby Wood.

Further explaining his inspiration behind his latest offering’, J APPIAH says, “‘Blinding’ is about my desire to be well-known as an artist but also my apprehension with regards to the pitfalls of it. It’s about people judging you for who they think you are before they’ve even met you. It’s also about being seduced by the idea of popularity. I think today there are many ways you can become well-known, everyone seems to want their 15 minutes of fame”.

The Hackney native has received strong support from the likes of BBC 1Xtra, 4 Music, Complex, BBC 6 Music, Clash Magazine, MTV Base, Dummy Magazine and The Line of Best Fit recently, while his last project ‘Travelight’ garnered rave reviews and strong acclaim from fans and the industry alike, and it’s anyone’s guess where this inimitable new artist will go next.

Listen to ‘Blinding’ below:

Album Review: Sketch (Abstract) – Mission

MISSION comes at you with full force with his latest album entitled album ‘Sketch (Abstract)’, released earlier this month.

The South African rapper teams up with long-term collaborator, producer and NEW LEASE MUSIC regular Jayd Soliar – aka JAS – to create abstracted sounds and overtones that’s rough around the edges, accompanied with a bed of scenic soundscapes offering some lightness. His rap delivery to the contracting combo gives that extra rawness to the nine-track project, whereas the female vocalist soothes over the (respectfully) jarring production.

‘Sketch (Abstract)’ is born from a strong partnership, aiming to push out pieces that becomes progressively dark and avant-garde. Rather than making a project that’s autobiographical, the pair deliberately left it open for the listeners to interpret the album through their personal experiences.

So the ball is in your court; check out ‘Sketch (Abstract)’…and don’t be afraid to leave your comments below about your experience of the album.

Must Listens: La Di Da Di, P*ssy, Questions, Ghost Phase

New Track: Time For This – Artifact Collective

Danish six-piece ARTIFACT COLLECTIVE  have released their third single ‘Time For This’, infused with languid R&B and brash indie rock.

Lead singer and songwriter Victor Oliver curates songs influenced by youthful nights spent under the artificial lights of a capital city – his complex, pensive lyricism drawing inspiration from troubled relationships, daydreaming and surreal drama series. Pairing Victor’s polished vocals with slick R&B beats and electronic rhythms, the track is an indefatigable amalgamation of boisterous musical production and intelligent songwriting.

Previous singles have garnered extensive support from Denmark’s hit music station DR P3, with the collective already securing a number of exciting co-signs from abroad – continuing to cement their already burgeoning reputations.

Talent continues to emanate from the north of Europe, and ARTIFACT COLLECTIVE are no exception to this rule. The young group of twenty-year olds write, arrange, record and design every track they produce, and their most recent release proves their indisputable musical expertise.

Have a listen to ‘Time For This’ below:

Song of the Day: Stop Me – Franko Fraize (ft. Alex Joseph)

Added straight on to the Spotify ‘Grime Shutdown’ playlist, FRANKO FRAIZE released stunning new single ‘Stop Me’, alongside his highly anticipated ‘Lights & Colour’ EP.

Proving to be quite the musical enigma, FRANKO FRAIZE takes influence from Hip-Hop and Indie, which is expressed through his heartfelt and moving rap delivery. Always distinguishable by his archetypically British accent, his voice is undeniably recognisable. His charismatic charm reached into the soul with bold disposition for his latest records as FRANKO FRAIZE begins the project with his thought evoking track ‘Side By Side’ ft Alex Joseph. Connecting listeners through the engaging message of growth, perspective, empathy and understanding, it was the first gem to be released from his EP and was paired with heartwarmingly nostalgic visuals. A one to watch, this track caught the attention of DJ Mistajam who said: “I’ve been keeping my eye on him for a while but this is possibly his best track to date!”.

‘Stop Me’ is a real strong contender for being the top track on the EP. Bound in energy and no-nonsense determination, the record is an instant mood booster that gives a solid kick up the arse in terms of both sound and lyricism.

Check out the video below:

 

 

Song of the Day: P.J.R – Hydromag

Written in memory of a close relative who took their own life, ‘P.J.R’ is the latest single from HYDROMAG.

Although the record addresses a heavy subject matter, the track’s melody and composition aims to leave the listener somewhere far out in space.

Speaking on the release, HYDROMAG says: “It was not easy task to write this song, it took a lot out of me and I spent far longer on it than any other song I’ve written. I’m still not sure that I’m fully happy with it, but it was a good way to address the issues I had locked away.”.

‘P.J.R’ forms part of HYDROMAG‘s forthcoming ‘This Is Fleeting’ EP. Listen to P.J.R below: