Song of the Day: Scars – SAVARRE

Hailing from New York, avant-garde ‘Spectra Rock’ outfit SAVARRE’s latest single ‘Scars’ is a passionate ode for anyone who has bounced back stronger than ever from a traumatic experience. Savarre is fronted by multi-talented singer-songwriter, composer, playwright, and novelist Shannon Denise Evans, whose perfectly soaring vocal performance would deeply resonate with each and every one of us. The real message of the song there is not to look back on the bad experience with anger but to go forth with pride, proudly presenting the scars from that journey.

Shannon shares, “For me, the experiences that created my scars made me stronger, smarter, and more resilient. I wear my scars proudly now; they are markers on a path that led me back to myself.”

‘Scars’ is now available on all music platforms, including Spotify. Follow Savarre via Instagram to know more about them and upcoming ventures.

Song of the Day: Mark Twain – Shelf Lives

Taken from their debut mini-album ‘Yes, offence,’ slated for release in April 2022, South London duo SHELF LIVES‘ single ‘Mark Twain’ boasts two-and-a-half minute of flailing electronic breakbeats, glitched-out synths and churning distorted guitars – a prime example of the band’s post-punk/trash-pop amalgam.

Speaking on the new single, Shelf Lives singer Sabrina said: “We’re in an age of self-expression which comes hand-in-hand with opinion. We’re being told by each other who we can and can’t be, what we can and can’t feel and how to express it. Mark Twain is a, sort of, commentary on the confusion and complexity this behaviour creates of something meant to be genuine and authentic. It becomes safer to be emotionless, or at least perceived as, but as we waste these moments of vulnerability and expression a resentment and sadness build. This inevitably leads to the disassociation with these “new norms” and potentially social isolation.”

Originating from Toronto, Canada and Northampton respectively, Shelf Lives consist of singer Sabrina and guitarist/producer Jonny – who now both reside in Streatham Hill, South London. Bringing to mind the acerbic art-rock of Le Tigre, the intensity of The Prodigy, and the gritty garage-rock inspired electro bombast of Peaches, the band’s debut mini-album is sure to enthral en masse upon its release next year.

Check out the video for the single, directed by Florence Poppy Deary and Francesca Van Haverbeke (aka FLAN).

Song of the Day: Vibe – Arrested Development (ft. Big Daddy Kane, Cleveland P Jones & Tasha LaRae)

When it comes to boombap and classic rap, there isn’t anyone who does it like the trailblazers, name-makers, and ground-shakers like ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and their latest single, ‘Vibe’

The 2x GRAMMY Award-winning hip hops group credited with a culture-shaping 30 years of experience, Arrested Development was the first hip hop group to ever receive the GRAMMY for Best New Artist while also receiving one for Best Rap Single; the song of honour was their anthemic, prayer-like track, ‘Tennessee’ — which has gone on to be named by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as one of the Top 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.

Speaking of honours, this timeless group of performers and collaborators were recognized at the Black Music Honors Awards in September of 2019, and have continued to perform in sold-out venues in every part of the world for the past three decades.

Featuring Big Daddy Kane, Cleveland P Jones, and Tasha LaRae, the single ‘Vibe’ lands ahead of the forthcoming album, For the FKN Love — which was primarily produced by British Production and boombap specialist, Configa.

Stellar collaborations in their own right, the features ‘Vibe’ also preview what’s to come for the new release, set to spotlight other timeless names of the industry, such as The Sugar Hill Gang, Masta Ace, Freddie Foxxx, Monie Love, Kxng Crooked, G Love (G Love and special sauce), Tony Momrelle (Incognito), and Dee-1 plus Fatman Scoop.

‘Vibe’ is available now on all DSPs. Check out the official video below…

Song of the Day: Grooveship – Rocomoco

Lifted from their forthcoming album, ‘Into The Blue’, slated for release this Friday (29th October) via Aviary Day on Aviary Bridge Records Ltd, laidback lo-fi duo ROCOMOCO‘s single, ‘Grooveshop’ features Denmark-based artist Hoffy Beats who is making himself at home in the sounds of chilled beats. He’s been featured on the Lo-Fi Girl Youtube channel and has earned just under 13 million plays on Spotify alone.

Berlin-based rocomoco have earned over 11 million streams across platforms, with features on vibe-maker Youtube channels such as nourish, Dreamy, Délicieuse Musique, College Music, STEEZYASFUCK, and The Jazz Hop Cafe to boot as well as appearing on Mr Suicide Sheep’s Favourites Spotify playlist. The duo were featured in Last Day Deaf’s Cool Smooth Chill playlist and received written support from the likes of CLASH Magazine, A Closer Listen, Stereofox, and Give It A Spin.

The pair have incorporate a collection of chilled vibes, jazzy guitars and dusty beats with a forward-looking left-leaning edge into their work, calling upon the likes of J Dilla, Nujabes and Jinsang as source of inspiration. In turn, their sound draws parallels to the likes of Potsu, Kruder & Dorfmeister, FKJ and Nightmares on Wax.

Speaking of the single, rocomoco says: “Our single is about when everything falls in place perfectly: Grooveshop serves liquid melodies from places of longing. Think about endless moments in Mediterranean beach bars where the time stands still. Hoffy’s Jazz chords and piano licks have been a good starting point for the atmospheric and chilled beat we ended up with.”

‘Grooveship’ follows previously released singles, ‘Years’ and ‘Warm Flicker’. Check out the accompanied colourful video for the feel-good single below…

Kid Apollo Release Debut Single, ‘Let Go Of Things I Said’

Brixton, London based teenage trio KID APOLLO released their captivating debut single ‘Let Go Of Things I Said’ yesterday (7th September).

Consisting of singer and producer Jimmy HM and twin brothers (and producers) Felix and Theo Ratigan, the outfit’s self written and produced offering is a visceral, hushed R&B/pop hybrid, suggesting exciting things to come from the young trio.

Speaking on the release of the new track, singer Jimmy HM said: “‘let go of things I said’ tells the simple story of two people that rely heavily on each other yet refuse to accept it. It explains how the small things that happen between two people are often what breaks a relationship down.”

Commenting further on their goals, the band said: “We’re expressing our experiences within the way we live through our music. We aim to never restrict ourselves to one genre as this wouldn’t reflect the type of artists we are. Whether the songs are talking about relationships or our last function, all we really want when someone first listens to our music is for them to be in their own space and get lost in the songs.”

The band will release their debut EP later this year via Sweat Entertainment. Check out the official video for the emotive single below…