KUTEE LEE‘s brand new single, ‘Southside’ epitomizes his experience in the city of Port Harcourt (Nigeria) and how he relates with his peers and accomplice in the burgeoning creative scene. It serves as a healing balm and a stretched-out arm of camaraderie to his people, highlighting things they have in common but mainly the fact that they’re from the same area – Southside.
Kutee Lee puts up a stellar performance on the intensely melodic rap record, alternating between singing and rapping about his city experiences. Have a listen below…
MICAH WILLIS is a rising pop singer with old soul sensibility when it comes to instrumentation and production, this would seem natural as Micah is the son of blues great Kenny Neal. His single, ‘Sunshine’, which comes off the upcoming mixtape, ‘Who The Hell Is Micah Willis,’ was recorded in Baton Rouge with Kennys band brings a gospel-like emotive and inspirational lyrics sung with powerful female backing vocals strengthen the belting delivery of Micah over an organ’s swirl, glittering with the guitar of Kenny Neal.
‘Sunshine’ came into existence after Micah felt a wave of hope on a plane ride home from a successful gig in Orlando. He says this is the fastest a song has ever come together for him. The reason that wave of hope lead to such a powerful single is Micah suffers from anxiety and depression and like a lot of us it has been more challenging in recent years.
The more he shared the outline of the song, the more people were quick to jump on board – first producer Chance Clift, then Christian Lucy on keys. Micah then sent it to his father Kenny Neal who on hearing it wanted to bring his full band in. Micah realising the connection this song was making brought in some amazing vocalists Mimi Knowles and Raven Flowers to fill out the sonic hug.
Micah says of creating the single: “I haven’t ever experienced creating a song the way we created this. I feel like there was so much love in every session we did with this song, and that is what this song is all about. Love, hope, and happiness.”
Cuban/Irish singer-songwriter QBANAA (pronounced Cubana) has shared the video her debut single ‘Truth and Desire’.Filmed in gorgeous Dublin spots at Killiney Beach and the Botanic Gardens, the music video is simple yet visually aesthetic, translating the lust, mysteriousness and flirtatiousness in Qbanaa’s song. Outfits were styled by Eoin Gavin, who brought the ethereal visuals with light, simple and delicate pieces.
With a catchy bass line and soulful vocals ‘Truth and Desire’ mixes Qbanaa’s Spanish and English native tongues to create a flirty song celebrating the euphoria of re-discovering love after long periods of loneliness and includes choir-like sections resembling the honeymoon period of new lovers.
The debut single has already been featured on Eric Alper (who’s worked with Ringo Star, Bob Geldoff, Sinead O’Connor to name a few) and four Spotify editorial playlists; ‘A Breath of Fresh Eire’, ‘LED Lights’, ‘Fresh Finds UK and IE’ and ‘the Night Bus Edit’ and has been featured on Worldwide FM, Nialler 9, Hot Press and Golden Plec, to name a few.
Qbanaa will follow-up with single ‘Creative perfection’, produced and mixed by Dan Doherty in Darklands, who has worked with Fontaines, Damien Dempsey and Coolio (RIP)…but for now, watch the official video for ‘Truth and Desire’, directed by Niamh Bryson and shot by JP Quill…
Toronto-based Electro-pop R&B music sensation JORDANA OF EARTH transports listeners with melancholy romance and light smoky vocals to tell a vulnerable tale of distance and its effect on love with the ethereal single ‘Need To Know’. Fueled by her own lived experiences, Jordana of Earth’s 3rd single from her expertly crafted debut EP ’10k,’ a deeply personal voyage that sonically soothes the soul. “Each track off the EP hits different moments and feelings within a relationship running its course,” she explains.
‘Need To Know’ is a seduction of the senses with a slower tempo and harmonic textures to get under the skin. “The song is a pleading ballad about wanting to stay close from a distance, with someone who is away for lengths of time.” Jordana of Earth gives a transcendent performance with richly layered vocals and a deliberate message.
Jordana of Earth is a singer/songwriter/producer from Toronto with a distinct voice that weaves R&B, Pop, and Trip-Hop influences to create something entirely new. A fearless, multi-disciplined artist inspired to start from a young age, Jordana found instant success with her debut single, ‘Leave the Light On’ (produced by Jeff Crake, DVSN).
With the support of her city behind her and several features across multiple Spotify playlists and radio stations across Canada, there is no stopping the momentum of this modern renaissance artist.
London singer/rapper and producer JESSICA WILDE has had a huge 2022 pulling out all the stops on her acclaimed debut album ‘Sober,Wasted,Wasted,Sober’, released earlier in the year and heats things up again with a winter jam blaster entitled ‘Kissing My Best Friend’.
As Jess continues to embrace support from all the right quarters at Spotify and BBCRadio 1, Complex, Clash, 6 Music and 1Xtra among others she shows up again with an undeniable dance floor and bedroom bouncer which not only gets you moving but lyrically also gets you thinking about today’s gender norms, sexuality and other taboo’s as she keeps breaking down barriers through generously and openly sharing her deepest desires and thoughts in the most irresistible ways only a true pop legend in the making can.
Through her brutal honesty, sharp witted lyricism and evocative singing vocals, ‘Kissing My Best Friend’ is a journey into the depths of Wilde’s mind, holding us on the edge of our seat with a cinematic musical backdrop and South London grit as she’s… ‘Thinking of Kissing her best friend’. These are the kind of thoughts most wouldn’t dare to share or speak out loud, but Wilde’s bravery wants for nothing as she continually holds nothing back.
Of the single Jessica says, “This song is exciting for me as it’s my first self-produced release. As a female artist it feels really good to be seen not only as a voice but also as a producer. ‘Kissing My Best Friend’ is a very personal tune but hopefully my best riends won’t figure out which of them it’s about haha!”
Wilde is not only busy releasing groundbreaking music but also selling out shows at the Iconic Hootananny Brixton and Laylow with her rapidly expanding brand and event ‘PxSSY PWR’ in which she spotlights the most exciting female talent around! She also just landed an Ad Campaign with ADIDAS as the voice for a new women’s running trainer featuring all the top female athletes from around the world.
Wilde has collaborated with the likes of Rudimental and watch out for new tracks coming soon featuring Wilde from house legend Todd Terry and producer, DJ Carly Wilford…bur for now, have a listen to the racy single, ‘Kissing My Best Friend’…
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