Out Today: Olaedo Ibe Releases Empowering Single, ‘Golden Skin’ ft. Rae Rae

London’s Gospel songbird OLAEDO IBE releases her brand new single, ‘Golden Skin’, out today (24th August) across various music platforms. Wrapped in a smooth Afrobeat vibe and R&B undertones, the single is taken from Olaedo Ibe’s third album also called Golden Skin, coming out very soon.

Featuring fellow UK gospel singer RAE RAE, ‘Golden Skin’ touches on sensitive topics such as colourism and skin bleaching but ends with a message of love, hope and self-acceptance. The single also makes a comparison between skin and gold, encouraging the listener to be happy the way they are. Olaedo Ibe’s favourite line of the song is bridge which says: “Whatever you were born in God has made a way for you to win.”

Initially, ‘Golden Skin’ was a source of self-encouragement for Olaedo and she sang to herself whilst working as a nurse. However, when she started working on Dermatology units, Burns and Plastic surgery, the focus of the single changed as she witnessed men and women use harmful products on their skin to lighten their skin tone. Her passion grew on this topic when she read a report by the World Health Organisation indicated that over 70% of Nigerian women use skin bleaching products, increasing the risk of skin cancer, liver damage, kidney damage and thinning skin.

‘Golden Skin’ is also used to create awareness about the British skin foundation to raise funds for skin research.

Born in London to Nigerian parents, Olaedo Ibe started out singing in church and local events from a young age and quickly found her forte in combining music with words of empowerment that’s relatable and touching to people, regardless of race, background and religious beliefs. Her crossover appeal gave her the opportunity to share the stage with Motown legend Peobo Bryson.

Olaedo Ibe released her debut EP, ‘Shine Like Gold’ in 2015, which gained a nomination for the MOBO Premier Gospel Music and Urban music award later that year. She followed up with her second EP, ‘Grow to Glow’ in 2018 which features ‘Lead Me’, ‘Good Life’, featuring Leke and Becca Folkes, and ‘Fill Us’ (a Children’s song). All three tracks from the EP claimed the top ten spot on the UK Christian Chart.

To date, Olaedo has accumulated over 100,000 combined views on her Youtube channel, over 80,000 combined streams on Spotify and over 53,000 combined streams on Soundcloud.

Out today (24th August) across various music platforms, ‘Golden Skin’ forms part of Olaedo Ibe’s third album also called Golden Skin, coming out soon. Check out the revitalising single below…

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Song of the Day: My Lover – YXL Ayo

YXL AYO [YXL-eye-o] lines up his captivating summer smash ‘My Lover’.

Produced by Tosxn Beats and engineered by Kingsley Boyden, ‘My Lover’ delivers an Afro-fusion groove fused with hip-hop and R&B elements— nods to YXL Ayo’s influences including the likes of Mario, WizKid and Maleek Berry. The trendy yet luscious production work caters perfectly to YXL Ayo’s vocal performance, a marriage of multi-genre stylings which culminates in a soulful bounce. This produces an undeniably infectious record which sounds primed to take over the season.

YXL Ayo is preparing to release a brand new EP later this year…keep an eye out for that…but for now, check out his sensual joint below…

JyellowL Releases Rich New Single ‘Benteyga’.

JYELLOWL continues to break boundaries and exceed all expectations. His distinctive voice and lyrical prowess shine through once more, as he weaves a tale of humility, growth, and aspirations in his latest release, ‘Benteyga’.

Now based in London and building on the remarkable success of his EP ‘Shades of Yellow’, JyellowL is back to assert his undeniable presence in the industry with this rich new track.

‘Benteyga’ is another masterpiece by J. Created with London-based producer Trey Qua, this summer anthem seamlessly blends rap, dancehall, and afro genres, creating a good vibe that connects with listeners. Drawing inspiration from iconic tracks like Drake’s ‘Passionfruit’ and ‘One Dance’, the production showcases JYellowL’s ability to merge diverse musical elements into a harmonious whole.

‘Benteyga’ signifies JYellowL’s evolution into a new musical phase that promises to be as boundary-pushing and genre-blurring as his previous releases. Check it out below…

Song of the Day: Summer – BAELY

The highly-rated, fast-rising British artist BAELY shares latest single ‘Summer’ in a signal of strong intent for what is his first release since ‘Teleport’.

Having already garnered co-signs from the likes of Anderson Paak, Jorja Smith and Stormzy he is building a strong reputation for his incredible vocal skill, infectious songs and stellar live performances. In what is a vibrant, lo-fi R&B curation, he seamlessly fuses old and new sounds as he evolves with each release. Co-produced by Lophiile (H.E.R, Ari Lennox), the track is accompanied by the official LA shot music video and directed by Charlie Rees of Untold Studios. Written during a writing trip in LA back in November 2019, BAELY was inspired by his escape from the cold winter months of the UK to the sunshine-soaked climes of America. “I was out there wishing I could have that ‘Summer feeling’ all year round – so I put it in a song”. With a passion for Hip-Hop, R&B, Neo-Soul and Jazz, BAELY is creating his own sonic soundscapes with his distinctive vocals garnering the attention of press and tastemakers alike.

Collaborating with ‘Charlie Rees (JayO, Rita Ora) on the video, BAELY assembled a stellar team of creatives to bring together the retro-tinged visual for his latest offering, ‘Summer’. Shot in the middle of the Mojave Desert in California, BAELY performs against a breathtaking backdrop of mountains, natural rock-formations and vast landscapes, all under the glow of the California sun.

Despite being a relative newcomer in his solo career, BAELY has experienced incredible studio and live success, working with a plethora of artists – including Stormzy, Cleo Sol, Little Simz, Goldlink, Burna Boy, DAVE, Cat Burns, Mahalia, AJ Tracey and Jorja Smith, to name a few – as well as receiving support across the spectrum of the music media and radio. Guesting with Anderson Paak’s Grammy Nominated band ‘Free Nationals’ during their recent London shows, saw BAELY catapult further as he became a Soho House ‘Future First’ artist, headlining his own show at 180 House, sold out shows at Jazz Cafe including a live show held by UK R&B tastemakers ‘The Blues Project’, amongst many other notable performances. With more music on the way, he looks set to step out of the shadows in what is set to be a huge year ahead.

Check out the video for ‘Summer’ below…

Skeete Shares New EP, ‘Vibes Don’t Lie’

SKEETE, the fast-rising artist hailing from Nottingham, UK, has captivated listeners worldwide with his fascinating blend of R&B, soul, dancehall and Afrobeats. Recognised for his ability to effortlessly transition between slow, expressive tracks and uplifting anthems, Skeete’s versatility has earned him a dedicated fanbase. With notable hits such as ‘Notice Me’, ‘Independent Girl’, ‘No More Love Songs’ and ‘Weekdays (She Freaky, She Sneaky)’, which have helped the independent artist accumulate over 20 million streams, he is now poised to reach even greater heights with the release of his much-anticipated new EP, Vibes Don’t Lie.

Picking up from where ‘Weekdays (She Freaky, She Sneaky)’ left off, Vibes Don’t Lie taps into Skeete’s Caribbean heritage and takes listeners on a seamless journey filled with smooth R&B melodies, catchy dancehall rhythms and feelgood vibes perfect for the summer season. The EP is supported by new single ‘Tek Buddy’, which arrives alongside an enthralling music video directed by Jack Stangaard and will surely be another hit for Skeete as he continues to lead the charge as one of the most exciting UK R&B artists out today. The project also includes lead single ‘Set It Arff’.

Speaking about his inspiration behind the project, Skeete shares, “‘Weekdays (She Freaky, She Sneaky)’ wasn’t a song I expected to take off so quickly, but for its sexual tone and chemistry it brought something to fans. So, this project is directly for those same fans to enjoy some new summer music from me with a similar feel, but this time more with a variety on whether to pick an erotic vibe or a summery one.”

With the release of Vibes Don’t Lie, Skeete once again demonstrates his ability to draw in listeners through his genre-bending artistry and innate musical versatility. The EP’s anthemic hooks, combined with the infectious beats and sensual allure, create an irresistible sonic experience that will undoubtedly leave fans clamouring for more. Vibes Don’t Lie is out now on all platforms…check it out below…

Must Listens: Step Out, Tigher Tight, Liar & Cheater, Tek Buddy