East London producer & songwriter LIV EAST releases her debut EP ‘LVE1’ on EMK, Kartel Music Group’s electronic imprint. Produced by longtime collaborator LOKES LDN alongside Liv herself, the release nods towards classic soul & disco, channelling the likes of Chic and Adina Howard, yet shimmers with future, capturing influences from the likes of Jungle, SAULT and Cleo Sol.
To celebrate the release, Liv East shares single ‘LVE UNLIMITED’, the EPs most raw and bittersweet track. Liv comments on the single, “I wrote it upon reflection of how I’d been denied and cast aside in my last relationship. It was a painful and confusing time but my inner strength pushed me forwards and I knew I wouldn’t be waiting around for this person. It’s a story of self love even in the face of heartbreak. I wrote and recorded the vocals in one sitting with all the final vocals being from the demo recording. The lyrics give nods to classic love songs ‘killing me softly’ and ‘wicked games’, adding to that timeless feel I wanted to create with the whole project”.
2023 so far has seen Liv East release singles ‘You Got Me’, ‘So Badly’ and ‘Love Frequency’, which landed support from BBC Radio London, Rinse FM, The Independent, Dummy, Noctis, Vogue France, Earmilk, whilst also landing playlist support from New Music Friday UK. She’s also collaborated with a wealth of artists in recent months, including Fat Freddy’s Drop, Kid Fonque and Yarni.
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…
Covering themes of love, breakups, female empowerment and community unity, paired with a warm glow of nostalgic 90s-esque soul that runs fluent throughout the collection, The EP includes the previously released single, ‘Believe It’, which was well received from radio stations across the UK.
Alongside the release of the EP, 5 Weeks has also unveiled the remix of the fourth soulful offering from the EP, ‘Better Day’. 5 weeks has teamed up with Brighton’s producer Wax Roar to turn the single into an immediately infectious old-school dance banger. “Wax Roar was an absolute vibe,” Alexandria said about her time working with the producer.
5 Weeks started out as a duo, consisting of DJ Outbreak and soul singer Alexandria, who shared a mutual respect for Reggae, Hip-Hop and rare groove. After DJ Outbreak left the group to concentrate on some personal challenges, Alexandria took time out to deliberate the future of the band which also allowed her time to complete the first year of her PHD inCriminological Social Work/ Policy.
Alexandria decided to front 5 Weeks, completing the EP alone. Recorded at Audio Mango, where Alexandria said she had the time of her life recording the project with Wax Roar, ‘My Psalms’ EP kept in line of the act’s modern twist on 90’s – esque soul, where she takes inspiration from the likes of Karen Wheeler, Lisa Stansfield and Mica Paris, Moonchild, VanJess or Allen Stone, Tom Misch and Anita Baker.
Being brought up in a musical family, many influences came from her mum being in a reggae sound system in the seventies and eighties, Alexandria has been singing and songwriting from a young age and later picked by Sony for a publishing deal.Alexandria’s undeniable passion for music is makes up a fraction of her multifaceted life.Now aPHD graduate in Criminological Social Work/ Policy,she is a lecturer in health and social care, and an advocate for young people specifically in harmful sexual behaviour. As a prominent member of the community in her hometown in Brighton, Alexandria took part in Brighton’s half marathon to raise money for Sickle Cell. Alexandria is also donating 30% of the proceeds from My Psalms EP to BARCO, a Brighton-based charity that fights against anti-racism.‘Better Day’ (Wax Roar Remix) and ‘My Psalms’ EP are out now on various music outlets.
Double Brit award nominated, platinum selling artist ELIZA ROSE teams up with the incomparable dance music heavyweights The Martinez Brothers for a sizzling new track ‘Pleasure Peak’ – a golden-era Chicago house bass-line which leads listeners into a dance-floor wonderland of sharpened drum programming and hypnagogic synths. The track fervently evolves into a pulsating peak-time anthem, twisting and morphing to the sound of the organ bass with Rose’s tantalising vocal gliding atop the intoxicating new single.
Ahead of the track’s release, Eliza joined Martinez Brothers at their residency at Hï Ibiza where they debuted and performed the track to a huge reception on the legendary balearic dancefloor.
Accompanying the track is an Isaac Lamb directed video shot in Ibiza that takes reference from iconic videos from the likes of Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, Kylie and more. Featuring Eliza and The Martinez Brothers in the mad flow of wild day on the white isle, sailing on a yacht, riding in a Jeep and ending up in the club, the contrasting day and night elements that make up an ideal 24 hours in Ibiza also represent the light and dark elements of the track is self.
Speaking on the single, Eliza says: “Pleasure Peak is that sexy Ibiza summer roller. Sharing similar ideals with the island in the sense that it has two sides. The Baleari sunny beach vibe and the hard hitting lose yourself in Ibiza clubland. Throughout the track both the lyrics and beat play with the light and the darkness, the sun and the shade, the glitter ball and the grit. Competing…. whilst at the same time balancing each other out. It was a dream to work with The Martinez Brothers. I have been a fan of theirs for such a long time so to go from seeing them in the rave to a collaboration on track that screams DC:10 is giving serious balearic full circle energy.”
New Jersey artist GROOVY‘s single ‘jersey luv’, is an exhilarating R&B/Jersey Club fusion that is fitting for both late nights with your lover and late nights on the dance floor. Inspired by his New Jersey roots and the Jersey club global phenomenon, the single pays homage to the genre while incorporating staple Y2K R&B elements that allow Groovy to share his most intimate desires. Opening with a lustrous and laid back R&B melody, Groovy’s sultry vocals narrate the inner workings of his mind over the seductive production brought to life by producer Alejandro. The track then crescendos into a fully charged Jersey Club experience fuelled by staple steely triplet kick-drums and exuberant vocal chops, as fellow NJ artist B Jack$’ intoxicating freestyle verses take centre stage. The juxtaposing elements invite you to embrace the euphoric tension created between the two sonic atmospheres, as Groovy proves his ability to conceptualize a track that lives up to his name.
The single is accompanied by an official music video shot in Newark, NJ – a sentiment to Jersey Club as Newark is the birthplace of the movement and genre itself. Directed by Chris Andrade, viewers travel from a front row seat at a sumptuous fashion show to the exclusive backstage afterparty where everyone is seen doing what they do best when the Jersey Club beat drops. Every role necessary in bringing this vision to life was filled by New Jersey talent; this release is a special homegrown recipe and inspiration for all proud New Jerseyans, as their creative abilities are showcased for the world to see.
When asked what inspires his artistic endeavors, GROOVY explained, “My dad was a touring House DJ growing up, which allowed me to experience a unique cultural appreciation for the genre. Artists from around the world would come together to collaborate at my childhood home; witnessing that free artistic expression at such a young age was really special for me. Jersey has a huge influence on the dance/house genre, which inspired me to create music that is fueled by electricity, expression and liberation, all in my own neo-pop, R&B niche way.”
“jersey luv” follows a string of 2022 singles including groove-inducing ‘Platonic,’ and melancholy summer jam ‘Come Around.’ The traversing musician’s Brooklyn Music Kitchen residency brings fans together on the last Tuesday of every month, as they travel from near and far for his captivating, full-band live performances. Keep an eye out for Groovy as he continues to shine with his eclectic blend of neo-pop, R&B, and house while solidifying himself as one to watch in 2023.