Taken from her new EP, ‘Securely Detached’ ELIF DAME‘s latest single ‘Celexa (Buy Me Time)’ sees the Amsterdam-based singer/songwriter opens up about hitting rock bottom and weighing up the options of going on medication.
Released 27th october across various music platforms, ‘Securely Detached’ also features songs such as ‘How to Self-Care’ and ‘Self-Care Pt. II’ where Dame admits to not being able to fulfill her primary needs as a basic means of maintaining her stability and consequently facing a never ending cycle of healing and self-sabotage. Singles ‘Grandmothers Fault’ and ‘Good Friend’ both of which speak about the songwriters struggles with unhealthy relationships in her life, as well as ‘Nature of the Beast’ where the artist realizes that addiction is a family disease.
Having garnered nearly half a million streams for her debut single, Elif Dame (meaning she who brings light) is heading in the right direction, with the EP setting to take her to new heights, as she connects with listeners around the world with her beautifully honest and vulnerable music. Have a listen to ‘Celexa (Buy Me Time)’ below…
Italian born, Amsterdam based LEON SETI is the creative brainchild of Leo Baldi. Producing and singing throughout his discography, the enigmatic artist shared his single ‘And I’m Gone’.
His nostalgic yet experimental electro-pop has been played by the BBC Introducing and featured on Billboard Italy. He’s also received support from CLASH, and his album COBALT reached #1 on the iTunes Electronic Chart in Italy, earning him comparisons to the likes of Björk, Peter Gabriel and The Pet Shop Boys. Seti’s second album was equally impressive, released to rave reviews it reached #1 on the iTunes Electronic Chart in Italy and the Netherlands, while simultaneously cementing itself in the iTunes Top 10 of general sales in both countries. In addition to this, Leon Seti has appeared at venues such as The O2 Academy Islington and The Spice of Life in London, historic clubs like Spin Time Labs in Rome and Il Cassero in Bologna and at festivals such as Mengo Fest and Pride in Amsterdam.
Inspired by the artists he watched as a kid on TV, Leon Seti has always lived and breathed music. Growing up in a small town in Italy, he started singing late in his teens, joining various rock bands before eventually gravitating to writing pop songs on his laptop. After completing high school, he moved to the UK where he completed a BA in philosophy while simultaneously trying to establish himself as an artist. Going on to achieve an MA in philosophy in London, he never lost sight of his true passion, working many jobs while still pursuing his love for music.
Grimoire is a stunning LP where Leon Seti’s voice takes center stage over deep and nostalgic electronic instrumentals produced by Pancratio. It’s a kaleidoscopic collection of Seti’s thoughts, dreams and desires, with love often at the forefront of the message. Reminiscent of artists such as BANKS, Bjork and Imogen Heap, each track is personal and introspective, abundantly rich in vocal harmonies and layers. There’s also a deep feeling of continuity between the songs, with each one standing out in its own enchanting way, while simultaneously retaining the same theme throughout. Using his voice as his main weapon, Seti wears his heart on his sleeve, inviting the listener to step into his world and resonate with his lyrics and emotive vocals.
Leon Seti’s depth and talent shines in ‘And I’m Gone’. It’s a track full of passion and intricacies, one where Seti’s voice is upfront and present, emitting a real warmth and essence that is easily felt. Instrumentally, it’s nostalgic, with a plethora of synthetic elements that hold the track together and keep the listener engaged in its rich sonic soundscape- from bubbling arpeggios to plush pads. However, the lyrics are the true star of the show, as Seti sings about self-discovery and escapism from a love that he knows isn’t right.
Leon Seti had this to say: “Grimoire” is an album I wrote about the healing of trauma. I wanted every song to feel like a spell in a magic book, where the pain feels so old it’s almost acting like a balm. ‘And I’m Gone’, specifically, is a song about wanting to escape from a place of dread and solitude, and even though I talk like I’ve already left, it was actually written while I was living in London and wanting to escape a toxic relationship.“
After releasing a slew of singles from 2020 – 2021, it became clear to Amsterdam based singer-songwriter ELIF DAME that her lifelong battle against depression in combination with the pressure to consistently put out new work had taken away the joy she previously felt in releasing and thus decided to go on a long overdue self-care hiatus. In the year that followed, the artist committed herself to prioritizing her own mental health – all while documenting the process.
The result of that hiatus is her upcoming album, Securely Detached. The release showcases the her journey of learning to take back her own life, differentiate her own feelings from the feelings of her surroundings and also about learning to focus on herself instead of pre-occupying her mind with making other people happy and comfortable. Dame confides, “It’s about reframing my co-dependent relationships and about my time on the waitlist to get mental health care. It’s about the important process of learning what it means to put yourself first.”
The album kicked off with the release of ‘Celexa (Buy Me Time)’ where Dame opened up about hitting rock bottom and weighing up the options of going on medication. Now, Elif Dame continues with part two of her story, with her single ‘Killing It’ which focuses on letting go and starting to feel the benefits of medication, all whilst having doubts about being on the precipice of another manic episode. Sonically, ‘Killing It’ features warm, honey-soaked vocals, vibey beats from fellow Amsterdam artist GANZ, and hypnotic melodies which create an all-encompassing atmosphere. Check out the gorgeous single below…
GANZ, A.K.A Jordy Saämena is an Amsterdam-based producer/DJ extraordinaire who developed his masterful blend of hip-hop and electronica from a young age. Over time, GANZ’s sound has evolved, seeing him explore new territories and experiment with indie, pop and avant-garde music. His latest releases showcase his time spent playing with a multitude of genres and ambient soundscapes, creating something that is truly unique to GANZ.
In collaboration with Canadian duo Beach Season, comprised of Sam Avant and Simon Blitzer, GANZ unveils ‘Damage’. This latest partnership has involved international cooperation like no other. Bringing the lyrical ingenuity to life, Beach Season’s euphoric vocals pair seamlessly with lavish lofi beats. They explain, “The lyrics for “Damage” were inspired by the notion of mindless self-indulgence, even at the cost of one’s own well-being. The main root of the song centres around catharsis – a release that Sam and Simon felt even as they composed the lyrics. We have all experienced the need to be self-destructive in order to move past trauma or feel emotion.”
Taking inspiration from 90’s hip-hop and R&B elements, GANZ has developed euphonious musical elements like no other, adding a dimensional feel to “Damage”. Offering bulging basslines, echoing melodies and pulsing rhythmic sounds, this single is set to soar in success. With over 200,000 monthly listeners, his synth-focused productions and remixes helped usher in a new era of electronic music. With streaming numbers in the millions, we’re set to see huge things from GANZ and future collaborative opportunities in the coming months…Have a listen to ‘Damage’ below…
Australian band TORA‘s single ‘When Will I Learn’ – the second cut from their upcoming album, ‘A Force Majeure’ – is laced with melancholic but calm dynamics with dark harmonic undertones, which lyrically examines human self-reflection and self-care amidst trying times.
Speaking on the new release, the band said: “’When Will I Learn’ is about the harsh realities that we all have to face at times in our lives, it’s about going inwards and engaging in self reflection, which becomes the catalyst for rapid growth and expansion, and how sometimes you just need to face problems head on to solve them.”
In early 2020, Byron Bay’s Tora relocated to Amsterdam, set to make the city their base; an anchor around which a full year of European and American touring was to revolve. Soon after their arrival however, the threat of COVID-19 became a very real presence, forcing Tora to cancel their entire tour schedule, but also retreat into a strict new locked-down lifestyle.
Though the opportunity to perform was taken away, the band’s love for creating music remained and so, across the next eight months, Tora’s focus became set on A Force Majeure. The 11-track project follows their richly-textured 2019 album ‘Can’t Buy The Mood’ and their 2017 debut full length ‘Take A Rest’. Over the course of the two albums the band have received support from respected members of the international music community including both Annie Mac (BBC Radio 1) and Sir Elton John (Beats 1), press from The Guardian to Pigeons & Planes, with their catalogue now boasting upward of 150 million streams.
‘When Will I Learn’ is taken from album, ‘A Force Majeure’ slated for release 3rd September. Check out the official video for the single below…
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