If you’re seriously into hip-hop, but you don’t know of NIZELL, I suggest you GET TO KNOW HIM!
This hot Canadian property was on NEW LEASE MUSIC recently with Beautiful Sunrise. The straight-up loved up track is from his well-received mixtape, Who Is He?
Now he’s getting ready to drop his upcoming mixtape, Family Ties with his cousin Staxxxat the end of this month – and an album of the same name will follow later this year. The first release to drop off the eagerly-awaited mixtape is Emotionz . The Built2LastEntertainment recruitis featured on his collaborator, Canadian rapper Lava’s head-rolling track along with Staxxx.
If you like Emotionz, keep your eyes locked here for more releases from Family Ties.
Today’s song is Beautiful Sunrise by Canadian rapper NIZELL. This track is coming from his EP, Who Is He? released last year (by Built2Last Entertainment.)
NIZELL’s music journey stretched back to 2002, where he performed under the name TDOT. He released an album on an independent label which sold over 5,000 copies. NIZELL went on to work with a string of artists and producers in Canada and the US and has performed in Acapulco, Mexico, Calgary, London and Ontario. In 2006, he released his mixtape, TDot’s Finest Pt.1 followed by TDot’s Finest Pt.2 in the summer of 2011.
NIZELL re-established his sound with the release of 2012 mixtape, Like I Never Left (Built2Last Entertainment), which received raving reviews across the net. This guy kept on rolling as just a few months after the release of Like I Never Left, NIZELL dropped his latest EP, Who Is He? This ten-track production displays lyrics of personal experience, struggle and pain coupled with some seriously dope beats.
Take time out and listen to Beautiful Sunrise. If this is your first time listening to NIZELL, I bet it won’t be the last! More of his tracks are available on iTunes.
Today’s song is called The Arrival by four-piece Canadian band LATKA. The single is from their debut album, My Bright Heart released earlier this month.
In their bio, the rock-pop act said they are ‘set out to bring POP music that you can really move to’ –well they certainly achieved that! The Arrival is a fun, feel-good production that really gets you moving –listen for yourself. If The Arrival put a spring in your step, head over to their Bandcamp page and check out the album.
With two EPs and an album underneath their belt, LATKA is set to take their music beyond their hometown Winnipeg and break into the national and international scenes…watch this space!
1. Long Long While
2. Pembroke Murder Ballad
3. Shotgun Preacher
4. Ain’t No Mercy In This Cruel Old World (Gots Me A Blunt)
Masters of ‘dirt blues’, KINGS OF LOWERTOWN is unleashing their album 60 More Miles this October. The first release from the album Shotgun Preacher is the perfect introduction to their four-track production. This two and a half minute production offers no more than pure low-down dirty blues which is complicated by distorted vocals – definitely a standout track.
The album continues to offer that good old gritty blues with that muzzled, distorted vocals with Ain’t No Mercy In This Cruel Old World (Gots Me A Blunt) – but this time, there is a very light, sweet and distorted presence of the harmonica. The distortedness is obviously the band’s trademark -which I must say is totally ingenious!
Long, Long While is a more racy gritty rock creation which perhaps has an infusion of THE DOORS and TOM WAITS, whereas Pembroke Murder Ballad features a very light, feel good summery melody with the gritty guitar raging in the background, giving it a slight bluesy edge to it.
These guys were named one of the best bands in Ottawa last year by the Big Beat Blog. When you listen to Shotgun Preacher, it won’t be hard to figure out why they are worthy of that title.
1. Full Moon
2. Call Me In The Afternoon
3. No More Losing The War
4. She Wants To Want
5. Need It
6. Give Up
7. Judgement
8. Unofferable
9. Drug You
10. Nerve
11. Fire Escape
12. 21 Gun Salute
Devon Portielje (vocals/drums/guitars), Conner Molander (vocals, guitar, keys), Dylan Phillips (vocals, drums, keys) and Isaac Symonds (vocals, drums, keys, guitar) -aka HALF MOON RUN- are on the verge of releasing their album, Dark Eyes (through Glassnote / Communion / Island Records).
The twelve-track production was first released in Canada March last year, but as been remastered and remixed for global release. Already available in France (through Polydor Records) and in United States (through Glasstone Records), Dark Eyes will be available to the UK and the rest of Europe today.
The four-piece folk-rock act came together in the most unlikely situation – they met in Montreal on a Craigslist list ad. However after listening to their album several times, they sound like a band that has a special bond from high school.
Darks Eyes offers an infusion of 60s inspired soft folk, rock and which is topped off angelic harmonies – they really put me in the mind of COLDPLAY and perhaps DR HOOK? When I listen to Dark Eyes, I was greeted with such infusion in Full Circle, Call Me In The Afternoon and No More Losing The War. Halfway through the production, I was met with roaring guitars and melodic bass line in She Wants to Know and for the first time, I really appreciate Portielje’s vocals, which turned from ultra mellow to gusty. The gutsy vocals brought the whole production together. My absolute favourites are Give up, Judgement and Nerve (this song reminds me of Dr Hook)where there is a little funk added that folk and rock.
I have to say that Dark Eyes took me by surprise as (I have to admit) I’m not a massive fan of folk music. However after listening to this album, I’ll more open-minded about folk music and I’d be more than happy to listen to this album over and over again, as it perfect for those warm summer nights.
New Lease Music 