Song of the Day: P.L.L – Karen Nyame KG

One year on from her acclaimed 2022 heater ‘Taboo’ and 2021’s sun-soaked Sensei II EP, ‘Goddess of Rhythm’ KAREN NYAME KG shares single, ‘P.L.L’ (Pretty Little Liar) with the announcement of her new imprint, Rhythm In The City.

A lush and luxurious slice of deep Afro-house, drawing on her experiences with the darker side of romance, KG describes the track as, “a diary entry in music format”. Unafraid to dive deep with soul-baring productions, in her own words, ‘P.L.L’ is darker in mood, an electronic, low-end, Afro Percussive bounce. It is a tale of heartbreak, jealousy and unrequited love.”

Self-described as “a party for the grown and sexy”, Rhythm in the City began life as an event, carefully curated by Karen herself. Developing into a sell-out event series, the strong community around RITC is a testament to Karen’s bold creative vision and her much sought-after sonics. The evolution of the platform into a label, (Rhythm in the City / RITC Records), was a no-brainer – the label sonically is a reflection of Karen Nyame KG and the parties – it’s all about soul, percussive bounce, mood and melody. In her own words,”it will make you dance, seduce, but better yet, feel.”

Karen adds, “RITC is an extension of my own production signature that embodies a multitude of styles, UK Funky, Altè r&b, Afro Altè, Gqom, Amapiano, Highlife, Afro House. The RITC sound is unconventionally rhythmic, a hub for genre-bending, Afro-Electronic music. The label is all about breaking conventions and formulas in electronic dance music.” Due for release on her own imprint, the anticipated Red EP is a sentimental, candid insight to KG’s deepest musings on romance, passion and lust.

Returning in 2018 after a break from the music industry, KG has been in the scene for over a decade and has become an iconic name. Adored globally across diasporic and electronic spheres she stands out from the crowd with her sensual, melodic sonics, and penchant for groove-laden sounds that sit at the intersection of UK club music and the sounds of African diaspora.

2022 saw Karen mark the end of summer with her sizzling single ‘Taboo’, tipped by COMPLEX, DJ Mag and The Wire in their best tracks for 2022. This year, she flexed her A&R hands, enlisting the mighty Afrotech pioneer DJ IC, and Batido maestro, Vanyfox to create two huge remixes for ‘Taboo’.

In 2021, Karen stunned faithful followers and new fans alike with the glorious EP Sensei II (Black Acre Records), featuring the widely-celebrated sound of the summer, ‘Koko’ (reaching over 2 million streams) and with support from Resident Advisor, Mixmag, DJ Mag, Pan African Music and more, Sensei II truly reignited the flame for her. Truly dedicated to her craft, Karen Nyame KG continues to reach new heights as her creative and personal evolution continues.

‘P.L.L’ is the first offering from her forthcoming EP, Red, and marks another step in the British-Ghanaian polymath’s journey. Have a listen below…

Dreamtronica Duo Belau Returns With Feel-Good Single, ‘Focus’ ft. Myra Monoka

One of European’s most promising electronia duo BELAU returns with a new single called ‘Focus’ featuring one of their tour singer, Myra Monoka.

The guys speaking of their new offering: “Millions of people are interested in what methods help us distinguish between what serves us and what we form in ourselves based on reflexes, traumas and conventions. In the mysticism that is the basis of all great historical religions, there are a few universal solutions that help us navigate in this world and what can give effect to our decisions. Meditation, fasting and acceptance of fate through overcoming our fears are common denominators. People have forgotten these, but if we rediscover everything that humanity has already realized, it is quite sure that we are on the right track. What serves us lies on the other side of what we fear”

In five years, they had more than 200 live performances in 25 countries. The debut LP, ‘The Odyssey’ won the Hungarian Grammy in best electronic music album category. Their long-awaited sophomore album, titled Colourwave, made their name on international level, now they release ‘Focus’ featuring Myra Monoka, which will be the part of their new album ‘Apriori’ out on 27th of October. Check it out below…

OUT TODAY: Sheffield Artist J. Kas Unveils Captivating Single ‘Celebrate’ + Video.

Acclaimed Sheffield artist J. KAS is set to mesmerize music enthusiasts with the release of his latest single, ‘Celebrate,’ a dynamic composition that explores the rich tapestry of the African diaspora and its profound influence worldwide. This eagerly anticipated offering, taken from the ‘Celebrate Royalty’ project, promises to captivate listeners with its vibrant melodies and infectious rhythms.

Filmed against the backdrop of Liverpool’s Brazillica Festival and Leeds West Indian Carnival, the accompanying music video for ‘Celebrate’ is a visually stunning masterpiece. Directed by the visionary Pishdaad Modaressi Chahardehi, the video flawlessly captures the essence of the song, immersing viewers in a kaleidoscope of colours, captivating dance sequences, and jubilant festivities.

J. Kas, known for his ability to seamlessly blend various genres, has created a project that celebrates the vibrancy and cultural significance of the African diaspora. ‘Celebrate Royalty’ serves as a testament to the enduring legacy and immense contributions made by African community across the globe.

The artist continues to push creative boundaries, delivering songs that transcends borders and unites audiences through its universal message of joy, resilience, and unity. With the aid of fellow Sheffield alumni Franz-Von of afro-fusion band KOG & The Zongo Brigade and TC and the Family, who delivers an outstanding verse on ‘Royalty’ alongside strong vocals from Sheffield’s emerging talent Fatimah-X.

Already gaining significant recognition, J. Kas has been receiving widespread acclaim from influential radio stations including MOUVE Radio (France), BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing, and BBC 1Xtra. The artist’s infectious energy and thought-provoking lyrics have resonated with audiences, propelling J. Kas into the spotlight as an emerging talent to watch.

‘Celebrate’ is now available to download and stream on major digital music platforms.

Follow J. Kas via:
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T: https://twitter.com/JKASMUSIC
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jkasmusic/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jkasmusic

Song of the Day: Through The Clouds – Jay Phelps (ft. Simon Jnr)

A household name in the UK jazz world, Canadian-born, UK-based trumpeter, DJ and composer JAY PHELPS teams up with Birmingham MC Simon Jnr ‘Through The Clouds’. It’s the second single from his forthcoming album ‘The Now’, releasing via Platoon in partnership with Black Lives In Music.

With a career spanning 20 years, Phelps has performed as a sideman with some of the world’s top names, including Amy Winehouse, George Benson and Wiz Kid. His work as founding member of award-winning contemporary jazz group Empirical in the late 2000s garnered international acclaim, an early precursor to the explosion of UK jazz that has since followed. As a bandleader, he’s explored multiple styles, threading together the jazz language and tradition with contemporary influences, always with one eye on the future.
His status as an innovator and enabler on the UK jazz scene has seen him host regular shows on Jazz FM and Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide FM, and draw praise from The Guardian, Jazzwise and London Jazz News.

The forthcoming LP ‘The Now’ brings together a cross-generational collective of musicians. It’s a journey from the underground, club-centric UK jazz scene, through to the house-filled streets of Detroit and progressive sonics of LA. Phelps continues on his mission as a connector of dots, bringing together multiple generations of musicians at the forefront of the UK’s jazz scene, including David Mrakpor (Blue Lab Beats), Tom Ford (Chris Dave, Reuben James) and Nicola Guida (Secret Night Gang). The record draws inspiration from hiphop, G-funk and broken beat, with Phelps and co weaving between styles through
conversational improvisation, thoughtfully crafted melodies and a combination of vocal and horn-led arrangements. Continuing with the west coast vibe explored on lead single ‘Finding Centaurii’,

‘Through The Clouds’ invokes shades of Anderson Paak’s jazz-fuelled soul-funk. Phelps’ playful muted
trumpet is paired with Ruta Sipola’s flute in conversation with Mrakpor’s vibraphone, with the instrumental finely balanced against Simon Jnr’s lyrical flow, setting an inspirational tone of breaking through and looking past adversity.

“I wanted the catchy melody to be traded around the band, as it’s the largest ensemble featured on the entire album. Simon Jnr came through and provided the lyrical masterpiece, which tied in perfectly to the themes I wanted to convey on the instrumental.” -Jay Phelps. Have a listen to

‘Through The Clouds’ below…

OUT TODAY: Listen To Skofee’s EP, ‘Joyland’

Named after an amusement park she used to visit in Kansas, Los Angeles based indie pop singer/songwriter SKOFEE‘s brand new EP ‘Joyland’ contains six-tracks that chronicles finding joy in various ways after falling out of touch with it.

Skofee confides, “Joyland represents a euphoric state of mind, and one that isn’t necessarily accessible in the way it used to be. The pursuit of joy, self discovery, absence of comfort and the destruction of familiarity are all themes.”

Musically, ‘Joyland’ thrills with multidimensional sonics including sugary electro, moody indie pop, and introspective folk that touches on love, loss and the search for happiness in familiar places. Its release was preceded by several singles from the collection including her recent tropical house-tinged end-of-summer banger ‘Wind Up Hero’,  ‘Quicksand’, a relatable 90’s pop fused anthem about letting go, and the lofi pop ballad ‘I’m Sorry I Killed Your Plant’. 

2021 saw the release of the Post Pop Remix of her single ‘Spiderman’ (Post Pop being the moniker of producer Stefan Skarbek, who has worked with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and Jamiroquai among others). This uptempo reworking saw several months of airplay from Los Angeles’ KROQ-FM, arguably the most influential Alternative radio station in the country. In July 2022, Skofee released an incredible duet with famed Dutch singer/songwriter/producer and Grammy nominee Cimo Fränkel – a remake of Fränkel’s hit single ‘Where Do You Hide Your Love’ which saw support from tastemaker radio outlet KCRW and was placed in A-list rotation on Amazing Radio USA.

in the past, Skofee has received acclaim from the likes of Ones to Watch, Notion, LADYGUNN, The Line of Best Fit, LA Weekly, Spotify’s Fresh Finds, Sirius XM and NPR among other tastemakers…so you’re in for a treat here…have a listen to her EP below, out today from all good music platforms…

Must Listens: Mad At You, Quicksand, Wind Up Hero,