In true NEW LEASE MUSIC fashion, we don’t stick to one genre. So if you fancy some alt R&B/soul, neo soul, conscious rap, dreamy pop or something little different, well you’ve come to the right place! Just get to it and hit play on these no skip albums. If you’re feeling any of the collections, please like, or better still, leave a comment below.
Be sure to check NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Singles of 2024 on Monday. I hope you enjoy the albums below…
Happy New Year guys! Let’s make 2025 a year to remember!!!
It’s that time of the year when NEW LEASE MUSIC ramage through and pick out the top releases of 2024! Today, we start off with the best music videos featured on the blog in the past year. So why not sit back and check them out – oh and if you’re really digging these videos, why not leave a comment below.
Be sure to look out for NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Albums of 2024 tomorrow! Enjoy!
It’s an absolute pleasure to introduce MARINA MASSANOVA.
Known for her quirky pop and alt-rap singles that are arguably controversial, the German-based singer/songwriter has recently released the video for single ‘Aberrations’, which is currently the blog’s Music Video of the Month. The video contains striking visuals with wonderfully bizarre hidden meanings, so I caught up with Maria to reveal all…
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How is 2024 treating you so far?
MM: Hi Tracey, it’s so nice to connect with you!
2024 kicked off in a rather sneaky way. One part of the world was plunged into darkness—remember the total solar eclipse on April 8? It really hit me then how tiny we are in the universe.
But here’s the thing: despite feeling so small, I’ve witnessed so much beauty this year—in music, art, and everything people have created. It makes me wonder if we might actually be quite unique beings among all those distant, rocky planets.
I’m here, fully alive, soaking in millions of shades of emotions every day, savoring delicious burritos, listening to Cola Rammë’s voice notes, and watching the rain fall. 2024, thank you for all of that!
NLM: You released the video for single, ‘Aberrations’, with Cola Rammë back in October. What’s the concept behind the production?
MM: Innocence and perversion—even if we hesitate to admit it, these two forces are always connected within us. Cola and I dared to express this truth openly and provocatively, challenging the minds of our listeners. People often find the truth unsettling, especially the things they’d rather not think about for more than a fleeting moment. These are the thoughts they only entertain late at night, when no one else can guess what’s going on in their heads.
But there are no ‘bad’ thoughts. Our brains are simply processing pieces of information in strange and absurd ways—and that’s okay. It’s normal to think about forbidden things and dream bold dreams. Our minds are just testing what feels comfortable and what doesn’t. In the end, it’s what we choose to do with those thoughts that defines who we are. That final decision is what truly matters.
NLM: What inspired you to come up with the idea?
MM: It all began with a chilling nightmare experienced by my co-writer, Cola Rammë. In this dream, I was transformed into a terrifying monster relentlessly hunting him. Maybe that’s just how his inner self sees me!🤭 The nightmare itself was horrifying, but what really haunted Cola was a mysterious song that played on a loop in the background. Upon waking, he quickly captured that haunting melody, “stealing” it straight from his nightmare. That melody became the foundation of the song ‘Aberrations’.
When it came time to create the video, we couldn’t resist revisiting that unsettling dream. Aberrations isn’t just a video—it’s an invitation to step inside Cola’s nightmare. We brought to life the disturbing imagery from his dream, plunging viewers into a surreal and terrifying landscape where the line between reality and horror is beautifully blurred.
NLM: Man, you look like you were having a lot of fun in the video! During filming, were there any funny/awkward moments you would like to share?
MM: Absolutely! Picture this: a peaceful rural German village, where parents, kids, and the elderly are all enjoying a lovely day by the lake. The sun is setting, it’s warm and serene. Suddenly, Marina appears, with scary makeup, a Medusa crown, and a latex corset, diving into the water. I’d say they were definitely curious about what was going on.
Meanwhile, Cola, who had bought a bunch of dolls from a thrift shop, was all set to destroy them. But honestly, the way he did it was the most artistic destruction I’ve ever seen. Of course, he captured everything on camera for our video.
If I could tell little Marina what my future job would be, I think she’d be pretty excited!
NLM: What is the public perception of the video so far?
MM: The phrase I heard most often was, “This video is so artistic!” What’s even more exciting is that the video was selected to be showcased in the movie theatre at Berlin’s “Support Local Music” event. The creator of the event told me that the video was so captivating that he completely forgot to take the usual photos during the screening—he was absolutely absorbed in the narrative. And it didn’t stop there—many others said it was crazy and described it as a mysterious puzzle that needed to be solved. It’s truly unbelievable how many people were drawn to it!
NLM: If you had the chance to feature a famous actor or musician in the video, who would it be and why?
MM: The only thing that could make this video even more macabre would be featuring Marilyn Manson in it. I truly believe that if he had the chance to see it, he’d enjoy it too. When I was a teenager, I dreamt of marrying him, and I still feel his influence in the work I do today. He’s such an incredible artist!
NLM: Are you closing off 2024 with any of your solo work?
MM: I know a lot of people are eagerly waiting for my punkish, wild solo songs—and I’ve got three new ones! I’m keeping them under wraps while Santa’s still flying around, so he won’t be too shocked and I can get my good-girl presents. But as soon as that old grandpa heads back to the North Pole, I’ll put them into production. And oh, oh! It’s going to be something pretty wild.
NLM: What plans do you have in store for 2025?
MM: Hmm, let’s make them together. I think I’m ready to welcome new people into my music community. Right now, it’s a bit of a secret project, shared only among fearless music seekers. But I know how my beloved fans listen to my songs relentlessly, and it would be selfish to keep it all within our circle.
So why not invite some exciting new people in? Every soul brings something unique to the project. I believe music isn’t just about the artist—it’s about the whole community that grows and evolves together. Let’s do it! I’m ready to step out from my introverted side. That sounds like a plan to me!
NLM: How can potential fans find you?
MM: You can easily find me as Marina Massanova on all streaming platforms, socials, and everywhere else. I’m eager to meet you 🖤
NLM: Finally, any special shout outs to those involved in producing ‘Aberrations’ video?
There were only 3 people involved in creating the video. I filmed my scenes in Berlin with the incredibly talented videographer Nataly Dimitrieva, while Cola captured his intense shots in Newark all on his own. When it was time to put it all together, I took on the editing, and that’s when it all came to life!
The simplicity of the team paired with the complexity and mystery of the final result is something I’m so proud of. I couldn’t be more thankful to have worked with such talented, out-of-this-world people. This experience is truly a reason to be alive on this planet!
For Halloween, MARINA MASSANOVA and Cola Rammë release their latest spine-tingling video for the song ‘Aberrations’. Expect a haunting experience that will stir both fear and fascination.
The creation of ‘Aberrations’ stems from a chilling nightmare experienced by Cola Rammë. In his dream, his co-writer, Marina Massanova, transformed into a terrifying monster that hunted him relentlessly. A mysterious song played on repeat in the background, embedding itself into Cola’s mind. Upon waking, he quickly captured the haunting melody, “stealing” it from his nightmare.
When it came time to create the video, the duo revisited that unsettling dream. The release of ‘Aberrations’ isn’t just a video—it’s an invitation to step into Cola’s nightmare. The artists have brought to life the disturbing imagery from his dream, plunging viewers into a surreal and terrifying landscape where the line between reality and horror is blurred. Marina and Cola challenge audiences to immerse themselves in this twisted yet captivating narrative.
In discussing their latest work, the artists explain: “We are working to combine elements of innocence and perversion, two opposites that are always connected in human nature, even if we dread to admit it. What makes our work most provocative is that we dare to express this truth so openly and obscenely.”
The duo further elaborates on the chilling psychology behind their music and video: “People often find the truth unsettling, especially the things they’d rather not think about for more than a fleeting moment—thoughts they only allow themselves to consider late at night, when no one is around to guess their thoughts.”
German-born and South Korea-based multi hyphenate SION has returned with the release of his highly anticipated EP, ‘Sociavoidance’. Marking a transformative period for the hit-maker, ‘Sociavoidance’ goes against what we’re accustomed to, navigating a variety of genre-bending sounds; the 5-track project is a step in a different direction for the storyteller. Following on from the February release of ‘O.o’, we dive deeper into Sion’s unpredictable world. With an EU tour on the horizon later this year, ‘Sociavoidance’ is a glimpse of what to expect on stage.
Exploring the disassociation in modern-day interaction, Sion bares elements of vulnerability as he confronts his fears and desires surrounding social interaction and relationships, forming a comforting familiarity for many that’s enriched with depth and emotion. Boasting a refreshed creative flare, ‘Sociavoidance’ finely blends indie electronica, abstract hip-hop, alt R&B, and glitch pop yet still remains cohesively structured. After hours of refining the smaller details, this project reflects a time of great significance and self-reflection.
Opening the EP with “avoid!”, Sion instantly sets the tone as he acknowledges his disillusionment with modern-day relationships. Confronting his difficulty with human connection, he shares that his existing relationships are strained because of it.
”When asked about the difference between this album and previous projects, Sion explained, “This project marks the beginning of a new journey for me musically. I dove into different subgenres such as indie electronica, abstract hip-hop, alt R&B, and glitch pop, while trying to bind together all these different sounds in a cohesive manner through tons of sound design. I’m not sure, and kind of scared about how it will resonate with my audience right now. But at some point, I needed to progress, and this work certainly gives me the courage to experiment with even more genres and styles going forward in my career. I want to be remembered as an artist who has many facets but maintains a distinct colour, and I’d like to believe that this album is a good start in the right direction.”
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