Tag: alternative music

New Release: Free – Torii Wolf (ft. Macklemore & DJ Premier )


TORII WOLF has emerged onto the music scene as if she was shot out of a cannon. The singer/songwriter from Wantagh, New York who traded coasts-bouncing around West Coast cities and in doing so enhanced herself artistically; shunning categories, genres, confinement and convention.

Thanks to her sultry voice, range and musicality, Torii has enjoyed a precipitous rise. With an iconic producer who has a habit of producing and contributing to classic projects manning the boards, TORII WOLF & DJ Premier’s forthcoming collaborative union bum-rushes the walls of genres, age and expectations to let the world know a Flow Riiot is upon us.

Flow Riiot’s anthemic lead-single ‘Free’ tackles the battle we face every day to be our authentic selves and a reminder that our freedom comes from within and how we hold the key to how “Free” we really are. “Free” features Macklemore, who makes the lone guest appearance on Flow Riiot and the single was exclusively premiered by Complex.

The tracks topic matter holds very special meaning to Torii, as she expressed to Complex. ‘Free’ is a special tune. It’s very relatable. True freedom comes from within; it’s the battle we face each day with our own identity. Having the confidence to be comfortable in our skin and with who we are; and being our true authentic selves.”

TORII WOLF’s debut solo-album, ‘Flow Riiot’, will be released on 29th September via DJ Premier’s TTT (To The Top) imprint. For now, listen to the first installment of the upcoming album, ‘Free’.

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Song of the Day: Augustine – Kalahara

The first piece of music the pair (KALAHARA) wrote together, ‘Augustine’ is a more stripped back and emotive affair this time. The sparse production gives the vocal room to breathe evoking a sense of release and letting go. The music develops around a percussive swung conga leading you into Lydia Kaye’s incredible haunting vocal. Her beautiful multi layered harmonies glide over the deep rising bass-line, sonically enforcing the repeating motif ‘I lost myself’ building the track into a piece of dreamy downtempo alt-pop becoming mesmerising with the subtle yet addictive chorus.

The EP comes with remixes from some of the underground’s finest in the form of remixes from Bandulu gang’s very own Boofy & Wu Yen ( Hi5Ghost). Both take the original and flip it into straight up fire taking elements of the vocal but then dropping into their trademark dutty 808’s, snares and soundsystem shaking bass. Finishing off with a glitchy remix from newcomer Art|Thft the EP is complete.

The original is also accompanied by an absolutely stunning video from the incredibly talented filmmaker Craig Murray (Mogwai, Snow Ghost, Houndstooth etc) starring his own wife, who pairs the delicate original with a brilliant short film. Using his trademark elements of stop motion animation and film, taking its influence from a mutual love of ‘komorebi’ , space and the universe and everything in between it is the final piece of the puzzle to complete the release.

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New Track: Hearts In The Night – I.AM.Willow

Drawing influence from Kate Bush and Tori Amos, singer-songwriter I.AM.WILLOW reveals new single ‘Hearts in the Night’, following her recent release ‘Oceanful’.

Since her last appearance on NEW LEASE MUSIC, WILLOW has gained support from BBC Introducing, Q Magazine, The Line of Best Fit, and Time Out (Top 5 Rising Stars).

In 2009 WILLOW was nominated and won ‘Best Songwriter’ and ‘Best Female Artist’ at the Malta Music Awards, prompting her decision to move to England. The opportunities followed; from recording sessions with Grammy Award winning producer Steve Orchard, to appearances at festivals and venues such as Jazz Café, Bush Hall, The Royal Festival Hall and The Great Escape. She signed her first publishing deal with Fairwood Music, in 2013.

Over the past year, the alternative songstress has scored two No.1 album cuts in Spain (Ghost Town by Auryn and Head For The Stars by Sweet California), No.5 in South Africa (Elizma Theron), features with two of the biggest selling recording artists in Japan and China (Koda Kumi and China Lin Kailun respectively) and several song placements used in film trailers in the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany and China, including US TV show Chasing Life, and French film Boomerang.

WILLOW has also collected some famous fans along the way; legendary singer Annie Lennox offered her free studio time after hearing a private performance, and Sting booked her for his official after party during his Malta tour. She is the official co-writer on current pop hit ‘Daddy’, by Rotana. She now turns her focus to writing and releasing new material with an EP to follow later this year.

Listen to ‘Hearts In The Night.’

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New Track: Love Me Like I’m Gone – Jaws of Love

Following the release of the stunning debut single, ‘Jaws Of Love’, Local Natives’ vocalist/pianist/songwriter, Kelcey Ayer makes a quick return with a touching love letter, ‘Love Me Like I’m Gone under his first side project, JAWS OF LOVE.

Featured in Will Arnett’s Netflix series ‘Flaked’, ‘Love Me Like I’m Gone.’ showcases Ayer’s heart-worn vocals lilting over fingerpicked acoustic guitar.

The latest single is the second release from debut album, ‘Tasha Sits Close to the Piano’ – named by Ayer’s wife about the couple’s dog Tasha – digitally on September 22nd, with its gatefold coloured vinyl release available in the UK on 3rd November via K-Rizzla/House Arrest.

 

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Album Review: Meesh – Tunnel Traffic

It’s been some time (I think roughly a year and a half) since Adam Hachey, the brainchild of TUNNEL TRAFFIC, appeared on NEW LEASE MUSIC with his 2015 album, ‘Absolute Dreams’. Out of nowhere, this alternative folk-rocker recently emailed his new album, ‘Meesh, in which he produced while making his big shift to the City of Brotherly Love.

Unlike his previous collection, which was an atmospherically intense affair, ‘Meesh’ gets right down to it with bursts of zesty guitar licks through the first few tracks, ‘Lesson Learned’, ‘Pockets’ and ‘Anew’.

The psychedelic ride passes and makes way for a softer journey of lo-fi/new wave(ish) arrangements and the rich influence of that  70s inspired soulful rock, before turning up the tempo through efforts, ‘Maxwell’ and ‘All Day, Err Day.’

The latter part of the album is what I personally think is classic TRAFFIC TUNNEL. With the return of the zesty guitar plucks, the almost stripped back pieces becomes intense and personal, where you can not only hear, but FEEL every word uttered.

‘Meesh’ sees Adam comes out of his comfort zone and go down the experimentation route, which is great – but personally, he’s at his best when he perform songs that hone right into the soul.

Must Listens: Familiar, Slope Day, Mitch, Memorial

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