Upcoming R&B sensation OPELSINGS comes through with latest single, ‘Winter Love’, just in time for the festive season.
Produced by Terrance ‘Smokey’ Ivory, the sultry slow jam boasts a heavy bassline where Opel delivers her signature smooth, seductive vocals that’s tearing up the UK R&B scene right now.
‘Winter Love’ is the first single from her upcoming EP…be sure to look out for that…but for now, kick back and pin your ears back for this soothing joint…
Alt-pop artist MERCI, MERCY shares her third EP, ‘Like An Orchid’, out now via Liberation Records. With this new body of work she delivers sparkling alt-pop anthems with heart, including recent releases ‘Shovel’, ‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Silver Lining’, along with unreleased cuts ‘If You Had Any Friends’ and ‘Mouldy’.
The songs bounce around merci’s thoughts on big topics including the ups and downs of relationships, struggles with addiction and anxiety, and everything in between. With support from BBC Radio 1 on Jack Saunders’ Future Artists show and Mollie King’s Future Pop show, on all of her material to date, merci, mercy has never been afraid of exploring emotional vulnerabilities. Navigating mental health issues and overcoming personal hurdles surrounding anxiety and growing up in relationships, she has poured newly gained insights and perspective into ‘Like An Orchid’.
“My new EP Like An Orchid is the roller coaster of emotions you have during your first relationship and how extreme they can feel especially when you are someone who has anxiety. This EP will take you on a journey of my inner demons while also showing you into my heart a little bit. The songs in Like an Orchid are a family in terms of the lyrics but distant relatives in terms of the way they sound. Each story has its own sound.” – merci, mercy.
WATCH THE ‘IF YOU HAD ANY FRIENDS’ LYRIC VIDEO
‘Like An Orchid’ saw merci, mercy once again work with her longtime collaborator and friend, producer Chris Collins (‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Mouldy’) along with fellow Sydney-based songwriter and producer Robby De Sa (‘Silver Lining’ and ‘If You Had Any Friends’) and the one and only Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy of The Wombats (‘Shovel’).
With over 24 million streams to her name thanks to the success of her first two EP releases: no thank you, no thanks (2020) and is it me, or is it you? (2022), the demand for new music from merci, mercy has grown in a consistent and organic way.
Widespread support via renowned outlets including triple j, Beats 1 and Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1, Paper Magazine, NME, Clash Magazine, Flaunt and more, has positioned merci, mercy as part of a new vanguard of fresh Australian pop artists who have the potential to establish themselves as a long-standing presence internationally.
Extensive radio support throughout the UK and Europe, as well as continued global editorial playlist support across DSPs (she was one of the first global ambassadors of Spotify’s RADAR series and recently featured on the cover of Apple Music’s Superbloom playlist), has ensured merci, mercy’s front-of-mind status on the radars of industry and a fast-growing fanbase alike.
‘Like An Orchid’ is the next chapter in what has become one of Australian pop music’s most exciting and intriguing stories. Her dynamism was present from the jump but here, merci, mercy holds her space with a rejuvenated sense of self-awareness and ultimate happiness. A moment of blooming we can all wish to experience.
Listen to ‘Like and Orchid’ below…
Must Listens: Lonely & Horny, Silver Lining, Mouldy
Rising Neo-Soul artist GIORGIA-MAY graces her presence with the enchanting single, ‘Intertwine’. This fierce and soulful track showcases Giorgia’s unique ability to capture the intensity of lust and the longing to entangle oneself in another. Together in collaboration with Berlin-based producer Tuftyhead, she has built the song with a non-traditional structure, with the chorus shapeshifting its instrumentation throughout the track. From horns to synthesizers, jazzy electric guitar to R&B-infused vocals, ‘Intertwine’ will mesmerize you with its captivating arrangement.
Giorgia-May describes the meaning & creative process behind ‘Intertwine’: “Witnessing this song come to life has been such a pleasure. It started with some intimate lyrics and jazzy chords, and the introduction of the horns and the full instrumentation has really brought the whole vibe to life. When I sing this song I feel empowered, like I’m reclaiming my femininity. The freedom to share my sensual thoughts is something that I don’t take for granted. So many women are shamed just for having such desires. Expressing this in myself helps me to build confidence in myself as a strong woman, and ultimately I want this to empower others to feel good in themselves. It’s natural to want to love and be loved in return, there is no shame in that and there shouldn’t be shame in wanting to sing about it.”
‘Intertwine’ was released on Friday, 24th November. Why not check it out below…
After a short hiatus ‘Ghosts’ is the fitting title of Vancouver-based R&B artist GOLDSTEPZ‘s return. ‘Ghosts’ is about loss and gain. It’s about losing friends and relationships through death, drifting apart, and life circumstances, while facing this loss head-on with our ability to grow and change. ‘Ghosts’ intricately weaves this story of give and take with a nostalgic sound that makes us all feel that although loss is inevitable, change is always possible. Check it out below…
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.
Have a listen to ‘LVE1’ EP below…
New Lease Music 