Song of the Day: Pin Me Down – FRANSIS

Reminiscent of Wolf Alice and Florence + The Machine, London based alt/indie band FRANSIS‘ single, ‘Pin Me Down,’ was spurred by the tragic murder of Sarah Everard. It tackles a subject which is often difficult to talk about but shared by so many women, that of sexual assault, candidly focusing on the mental strain particularly in the aftermath, and the struggle behind closed doors.

Described as a therapeutic exorcism, Frontman Emma Withers shares, “This song is vulnerable and real, I wanted to focus on the self destruction, the brokenness, the confusion, the anger, and then finally the release which is supported by the music constantly, and as the song intensifies we hit an explosive finale, and an emotional release which was incredibly satisfying to perform in the studio, I did like 8 takes of this to get the raw emotion out of me, this is bonded with the mammoth eruption of epic guitar lines and pure power from the band.”

Despite the serious nature of “Pin Me Down” there is a positive outline, of admittance and then at the end, a collective sense of women standing together. A strong message that no-one should feel alone in their struggle, to let shame keep their burdens as skeletons or be fearful of walking down the street alone at night.

‘Pin Me Down’ is from their new EP, released last Friday (1st July). Listen to ‘Pin Me Down’ below…

5 Weeks Return With Video For Second Soulful Single, ‘Believe It’

Following the release of their pop/ rambunctious bass debut, ‘Can’t Have It’, UK (Brighton) Pop/R&B duo 5 WEEKS released the video for their second single, ‘Believe It’.

The new single is a reflection when a woman gets all googled-eyed when she finally found the one, over feathery layers of 90s – inspired soulful jazz, reminiscent of the likes of acid jazz heavyweights, D-influence and incognito.

A serendipitous musical relationship that was formed out of mutual respect for Reggae, Hip-Hop and rare groove, 5 Weeks consists of singer Alexandria and Darren Outbreak who cites array of artists such as Barrington Levy, Anita Baker, Soul 2 Soul, Mos Def, Anderson Paak, Gwen Guthrie, DJ Premier as their musical influences.

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 who was later picked by Sony for a publishing deal.

Darren began DJing at a very early age, getting his first club residency at 15. Starting out in electronic music, he broadened his horizons over the years with many genres in the musical landscape.

Since releasing their debut, ‘Can’t Have It’, which was well-received across the UK airwaves, the pair have collaborated with Choice FM’s legendary DJ Mix Master with the remix of their single, ‘Woman2Woman’.

‘Believe It’ will form part of 5 Weeks’ debut EP, ‘5 Weeks 4EHVA’ coming out in August. The pair are gearing up for an album launch party in their hometown Brighton on 5th September.

Check out the video below. You can also stream ‘Believe It Here.

Follow 5 Weeks via:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/5_week_s/

Rap Newcomer DichoTomi Looks To A Brighter Future On Single, ‘STF 17’

Introducing Toronto-based alternative rap newcomer DICHOTOMI with their brand new single titled ‘STF 17’. The soulful and infectious lo-fi rap track comes just in time to take over our summer playlists, and is the lead single for dichotomi’s upcoming debut EP that is set for release later this year. ‘STF 17’ is the anticipated follow-up to last year’s fan-favourite ‘plush’, which was a massive radio hit with the likes of CBC Music in Toronto, and Wave Of The Bay in Florida, to mention a few.

Produced by fellow Toronto musician Frizzy Astro, ‘STF 17’ is a catchy melodic rap offering, which sees dichotomi – who wrote the song when they were sick during the pandemic and couldn’t be outside – in a very hopeful mood, as they imagine better times and fantasize about being able to enjoy summertime in Toronto once again. Over lush synth keys and sparse lo-fi instrumentation, dichotomi showcases their infectious flow, clever lyricism, and carefree energy, to great effect.

Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘STF 17’, dichotomi says, “It was the first pandemic winter, and I was really sick… I couldn’t go outside because the weather, and I had no energy or motivation to make life inside more enjoyable because of the mental and physical effects of the pandemic. At a real low point, I started fantasizing about summers in Toronto and told myself that ‘everything will be better in the summer’ – as soon as I said it aloud, I felt compelled to write a song on that theme.

The track quickly took a political lean as I began to ruminate on the social, political, and economic forces that forced me into such a fragile position in the first place. ‘STF 17’ is most definitely a critique of our capitalist society, but with the added goal of offering some levity — allowing us to hope for a more equitable future. Be critical, be angry, be sad, but don’t let the state of this world keep you from turning your face to the sun every chance you get, and tirelessly seek the tiniest moments of joy”.

Highly recommended if you like the sounds of Noname, Tierra Whack or Chance The Rapper, dichotomi is for listeners that like to discover new things every time you listen to a track – they are for fans of lyricism, authenticity and exploring new sounds. Born in Florida and now living in Toronto, dichotomi burst onto the scene in 2019 with resounding music, led by good vibes and wholesome themes that are intended to inspire hope and validate their listeners.

‘STF 17’ was released yesterday across various download/streaming sites. Check out their official animated music video below…

Song of the Day: Fly By – KARMACODA

Comprising of Jessica Ford (vocals), Brett Crockett (aka B. on vocals and producer) and Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist Eric Matsuno (bass and other unique elements), electronic trio KARMACODA‘s single, ‘Fly By’ is what contemplative dreams are made of as we find ourselves floating along on Jessica’s sophisticated vocals. The sprinkling of sassy lyrics carried along on melodic piano notes lead the way into the impressively deep rhythmic rolling tones while a summery touch brings the single together as each refreshing note lightly lands on the pallet.

Jessica of KARMACODA tells us about the meaning behind ‘Fly By’: “Our latest single is about ending a relationship and washing your hands clean of it, without regret or remorse. Knowing it’s over and cutting the tie with peace in your heart and mind. Putting wings on it and watching it fly off into the universe never to be tested or tried again. It’s over. Without tears, you exhale, smile and release it into the world and “let it go”. You’ve done all you can. You’ve had the break ups, you’ve had the “try agains”, you’ve done the get back togethers. No more. You are ready to set it free and watch it ‘Fly By’.”

The band has also earned several awards including the Hermes Creative Awards (Platinum) for the ‘Lo-Fi Girl’ video and ‘Make Me The One’ video which also earned one Unglued Music Video (Gold) and three Davey Awards for Video Entertainment, Best Use of Music and Art Direction (all Silver).

Have a listen to the magical single below…

Song of the Day: Never Felt So Alone – Captains Of The Imagination

Responding to feelings of social isolation and the double-edged sword of digital connectivity, ‘Never Felt So Alone’ is the third single from CAPTIONS OF IMAGINATION‘s full EP Fingerprint.

Straight outta Geneva, Switzerland – who are often compared to a modern incarnation of the Fugees or the Black Eyed Peas – this trio combines rapping, singing, and musicianship with both distinctive lyrical content and their own vibe.

Taking a step in the direction of combating taboos around mental health, vocalists Imagine, Dr Koul and Evita Koné lead by example by sharing their angst instead of bottling it up. French beatmaker Josra constructs a sonic atmosphere built around vibrating basslines and strident synthesizers, backed by British violinist Julian Azkoul’s urgent bow strokes.

Musically, the song goes beyond its subject matter, as ‘Never Felt So Alone’ is as catchy and danceable as its music video is stylish and entertaining. Check it out below…