Tag: indie music

Queen Naija Confronts Self- Absorbed Men In Single, ‘Let’s Talk About It’.

Multi-platinum songstress QUEEN NAIJA kicks off the new year with ‘Let’s Talk About It’ — a slow-burning soulful R&B single that calls out all the self-absorbed and drama-obsessed men of the world. Accompanied by a cinematic video that finds Queen taking back her power, ‘Let’s Talk About It’ arrives around the Detroit-bred artist’s milestone five-year anniversary of her breakthrough hit ‘Medicine’ (a double-platinum smash that premiered on New Year’s Day in 2018 and immediately set her meteoric rise in motion).

Co-written by Queen with Mike Woods (G-Eazy, Tink, Ty Dolla $ign) and producer Oak Felder (Kehlani, Nicki Minaj, Pink Sweat$), ‘Let’s Talk About It’ possesses a soulful backdrop of lush textures and hypnotic beats, the bold but vulnerable track challenges the men in her life to face their issues once and for all.

Directed by Sara Lacombe, the video for ‘Let’s Talk About It’ opens on a shot of Queen driving rapidly through windy roads. It soon follows her to an abandoned warehouse where two other women assist her in bringing out her man tied up for Queen to confront him. Once inside the shadowy warehouse, a series of TV monitors light up to reveal footage of emotional crimes committed in the man’s past, as Queen autocratically circles her captive. Spliced with gorgeously captured performance shots of Queen, the visual ultimately finds her urging him to talk about what he’s done and fully own up to his actions. Alongside Queen, the video stars actor/rapper Lil Meech as her man from the 50 Cent produced television drama series BMF.

Not only dropping just after the five-year anniversary of ‘Medicine’ — a track that debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 — ‘Let’s Talk About It’ follows another major triumph for Queen: ‘Hate Our Love,’ her early-2022 RIAA gold-certified collaboration single with GRAMMY®-nominated superstar Big Sean. Released last February — and later accompanied by an official video directed by Cam Busby (Wiz Khalifa, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby) — ‘Hate Our Love’ marked another showing on the Billboard Hot 100, amassed over 265 million combined global streams, hit No. 1 crowning Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart, and received a 2022 BET Soul Train Award nomination.

With more than five billion combined global streams to date, Queen made her full-length debut with missunderstood — a 2020 release that entered the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart at No. 1 and cracked the top ten of the Billboard 200. Nominated for a 2021 American Music Award in the Favorite R&B Album category, missunderstood features Queen’s No. 1 hit ‘Butterflies Pt. 2’ along with her RIAA gold-certified singles ‘Pack Lite’ and ‘Lie To Me’ featuring Lil Durk.

Check out the video for Queen’s single below…

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Joslyn Sky’s New Single, ‘Pretty Little Things,’ Is A Real Confidence Booster.

LA-based dance/pop artist JOSLYN SKY has just released her uplifting and catchy new single, ‘P.L.T (Pretty Little Things)’, with the help of GRL SND Records. Joslyn Sky, aka, JSKY, is a singer/songwriter who creates to inspire and leave the world a more beautiful place. The song is made to evoke runway-style confidence, having collaborated with OCFASHIONWEEK, Bohorockercollection, and Nikol Davis for the music video coming with the single.

In a world full of social medialites pushing A.I. renditions of beauty and body, Joslyn Sky has created a bop that leaves the listener feeling uplifted and confident as they are. She teamed up with songwriter, Gurl, to create hooks that last. After deciding that a collaboration with a different artist was not the way to go, Joslyn took matters into her own hands and teamed up with her producer to create a solo version of the song.

Electronic piano chords support JSKY’s incredible voice, brimming with impressive control and confidence. “Walk, walk, let your legs talk” is a repeatable chorus that is spoken to the listener in a Mother of Drag tone, capturing the song’s danceability factor. The drums, synth, and textural elements make it a perfect blend for listeners seeking happy music.

JSKY is a nominee and winner for R&B Female Artist of 2016 at the Bull City Music Awards with her single “Love Myself” in Durham, NC. Her first album, ‘Madness in Lashes’ in 2019. Singles like I Be, Feeling Like A Goddess, and Big Drip Energy are songs she wrote on beats created by Major producer KE. He has made beats with household names such as Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Big Sean and Drake. She has performed for over 20,000 people at the Puerto Rican Festival in Charlotte, NC, and at a Breast Cancer Awareness event in Albany, NY.

While Joslyn also writes for TV/Film placements, she has been diving into acting and nailed the role as a Featured Cheerleader in the International Central Intelligence movie starring Actor/Comedian Kevin Hart and Actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Joslyn now has an indie rock band called “JSKY and the Vibes,” which played at The Infamous Whisky A Go-Go in West Hollywood, CA, last December.

Check out the video for ‘Pretty Little Things’ below…

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Song of the Day: Special Moves – Dubby Blanco (ft. SofaKing)

New York hip-hop artist DUBBY BLANCO‘s latest single, ‘Special Moves’ is one smooth boom bap joint accompanied with dream-like lo-fi vibes that can easily put you in a trance. Featuring fellow New York rapper SofaKing, ‘Special Moves’, is a reminder to be thankful for small blessings, that comes out way, and also encourages us to live life to the fullest.

With Colombian roots, Blanco begin his career in entertainment, working as a music promoter for DJ Star’s Chub Ent, and eventually started his own promotions team called FlyBoii Ent back in 2001. Alongside running his company, Blanco also performed as a rapper, creating significant buzz in his hometown and internationally.

In 2011, he dropped his debut mixtape, ‘Blancolombia’, followed up with his 2014 EP ‘Family Trees’. 2022 saw Blanco working alongside with DJ Chase, founder of New York City-based production company Worldwide Soundz Records and the founder of DJ Chase Publishing, LLC.

According to New York City’s own DJ Chase, “Dubby Blanco is a super dope Latino Hip Hop artist with dope bars and dope beat selection; you want to get on the wave early.” Hear for yourself…why not check him out below..

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Jason Griff & Alaska Team Up For First Release of 2023 ‘Pop Songs for the Apocalypse’ (Album)

Following the success of the critically acclaimed ‘Human Zoo’, JASON GRIFF and ALASKA are back with a new release, ‘Pop Songs for the Apocalypse’. released on Saturday (14th January), the new EP is 12 songs spanning just over 15 minutes and plays as one long track blended seamlessly together.

The EP was conceptually birthed from a youth spent obsessed with nuclear scares, satanic panics, revolutionary hip-hop and anarchist punk, Pop Songs for the Apocalypse drips with sarcastic cynicism and a fatalist distrust that can only come from Alaska and Jason Griff. Propelled by the breakneck neck pace of early 80s punk and the humorous venom of Ice Cube, no one is safe from being skewered, even the artists themselves. ‘Pop Songs for the Apocalypse’ is the perfect blend of “Fuck you, get off my lawn” and “We’re all gonna die so we might as well enjoy it.” These sentiments quickly become apparent on the opening song “Blowhards,” where Alaska repeatedly proclaims “I ain’t trying to hear nothing that nobody says,” and continues throughout the EP taking shots at politicians, trust fund kids and doomsday preppers alike.

‘Pop Songs for the Apocalypse’ is not on any streaming platforms and is available exclusively via insubordinaterecords.com and Bandcamp. In addition to digital downloads, the EP is also available on cassette. Check out the tracklist below:

  1. Blowhards
  2. No Nothing
  3. Cool as Johnny Gill
  4. Ya Uncle is a Crackhead
  5. Relay Race
  6. C & C Music Factory
  7. Welcome to Interrotron
  8. Hazmat Suits
  9. Rebel Smell
  10. Same Song
  11. Let’s Play Bohemia
  12. See Inside

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Pollena Offers Optimism In Dark Times With EP, ‘Rising.’

Following earlier tips from the likes of BBC 6 Music, Line of Best Fit, Notion, Radio 1/1Xtra, Under the Radar, Beats Per Minute, Earmilk – to name a few – London-based artist formerly of neo-soul outfit Girlhood – POLLENA returns with her debut EP ‘Rising’ on Team Talk Records.

Pollena isn’t afraid to tackle a darker world in her debut EP, finding power in the fight for a better life. ‘Rising’ stands out by giving us a reason for optimism even – especially – in challenging times. Featuring raw and honest themes delivered with Pollena’s signature rich, smooth vocals, the EP blends genres, from neo soul to house, electronica and RnB, in an accomplished celebration of individuality, resilience and vulnerability and a call for hope.

Co-written and co-produced with Barney Whittaker aka Footshooter, following the success of their previous collaboration ‘Stand Up’, ‘Rising’ reveals a fresh and rejuvenated sound for Pollena that melds together elements of neo-soul, house and RnB.

The leading ‘Black Holes’ is an exploration of spacey synths, glowing keys, and commanding bass lines accompanied by powerful yet ethereal vocals. “I’m searching for a way out of the darkness, trying to hold on to a glimpse of light through connection. ‘Black Holes’ speaks to our innate desire to feel whole and an understanding that good times shared together are the answer.” Pollena.

The following ‘Diamonds’ is a glowing house and UK garage-inspired bop with a powerful message. “I’m sick of society pressuring us into lives we don’t want. We blindly follow the paths set out for us and do what’s expected, we simply don’t have to. I want ‘Diamonds’ to encourage listeners to fight for a better life.” Pollena

‘Lemons’, the first release prior to the EP’s launch, reveals waves of sun-kissed harmonies accompanying glowing jazz keys and a rich, Latin-inspired rhythm to create a summer vibe full of hope and optimism. “I want to celebrate living a life that feels true to me and inspire others to do the same. ‘Lemons’ is all about slowing down and connecting with what makes you happy.” Pollena

Rounding up the EP is the hazy, lo-fi ‘Bask In Blue’. A mellow R&B beat blends warm, soulful harmonies with balmy keys. “Bask in Blue tells a story of letting uncomfortable feelings in and embracing sadness whilst holding onto the hope that things can change.” Pollena

So if you’re suffering from the January blues, I reckon this mini EP will offer up some comfort. Have a listen below…

Must Listens: Black Holes, Lemons

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