Esteemed EDM collaborator and versatile hip hop/pop artist PEYTN, changes lanes to melodic rap with single ‘Issues’ to deliver a heartfelt, vulnerable and raw account of the mental anguish toxicity in a relationship brings.
Peytn expands further on the release: “Everybody has been through that toxic relationship that left you questioning everything you’ve believed about love. From the listeners perspective, the only thing I care about them gaining is the knowledge that they are not alone.”
Formerly known as Atarii, Arizona-born/Salt Lake City-based Peytn has created his own lane in the Hip Hop and EDM industries. Moving from fast paced, hard styled hip hop, like all of his biggest inspirations, (Mac Miller, J Cole, Kendrick Lamar), Peytn focuses more on making music that comes from experiences, simply to create new experiences for many. Since rebranding from his former name, Peytn collected over 1.5 million streams on Spotify alone within the first year.
MJ COLE delivers a welcome slice of atmospheric 2-step magic called ‘You Got Me’ via 892 Recordings. Originally conceived live on his Twitch stream, this expertly crafted offering paints a luscious sound-world packed with energy, good vibrations, and warm hearts. Following the 2020 release of his third studio album MJ Cole presents Madrugada via Decca Records, this double drop of summery garage delights sets the tone one what is to come from the producer later this year.
With humble beginnings spending much of his childhood at the piano, practising concertos and eventually winning a scholarship to City of London School while also attending the Royal College of Music junior department, it’s undeniable that MJ Cole is one of the most unique and consistent producers in the game. Best known for his groundbreaking electronic productions, 2020 saw the release of MJ Cole’s third studio album MJ Cole presents Madrugada via Decca Records that marked a personal interlude drawing from his classical roots and into a new world of piano based ambience that was heralded by Mixmag, DJ Mag, Q, The i, i-D, Boiler Room 4:3, Hunger, Red Bull, Dummy Mag, Complex, Annie Mac, Giles Peterson, Phil Taggart, Pete Tong and more. In 2021, he had features and production credits on Rudimental’s “Remember Their Names” and Kurupt FM ft. Craig David “Summertime.
2019 saw MJ Cole claim co-writing and co-producing credits on Stormzy’s Heavy Is The Head album single ‘Crown’ and unveil the incredible Waking Up EP alongside the huge Observer tipped title track ‘Waking Up feat. Freya Ridings’. Since its release, the single garnered over 1000+ plays across national radio including Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1, a Shazam chart topping sync to the UK’s most popular reality TV program, Love Island alongside support from Mixmag, CLASH, TRENCH, DUMMY and more.
A year prior, 2018 saw the producer solidify his reputation for and unique ability to write emotive and club ready music with the Foundations EP whilst also collaborating with some of the UKs biggest breakout stars (Bruno Major, AJ Tracey, Avelino) to write songs – namely his incredible collaboration with Kojey Radical ‘Soak It Up’ set media alight, with support from tastemaker heavyweights Pitchfork, Highsnobiety, i-D, The FADER, NOWNESS, FACT and MTV.
With further accolades including chart topping singles ‘Sincere’ and ‘Crazy Love’, MOBO Awards, nominations for Mercury Music Prize and Ivor Novello awards, previous releases on Disclosure’s Method White label, having written and produced for Mary J Blige and collaborated with the Godfather of grime Wiley, the recent words of the iPAPER calling MJ Cole a ‘bona fide super producer’ have never run truer.
New York’s emcee IamDJSTAXX continues to capitalise on the momentum he has built as he is primed to release the third and final chapter of the Lost Talent Series, ‘Lost Talent 3’.
After releasing the first chapter in 2018 and the second one in 2019, he is now all set to offer the new fully-loaded EP. Released via UpNexx Digital LLC, This six-track project sees IamDJStaxx joining forces with new talents, Rah Dior and WaveGodTj.
A perfect combo of smooth after-hours tones along with a heavy bass introduces the EP with the track, ‘Ina Minute,’ which is topped off by the fiery bounce of IamDJStaxx’s and WaveGodTj’s delivery.
Some slick guitar plucks lead the way in the second effort, ‘It Is What It Is’ blossoming into a mid-tempo, cursing-in-the-summer noughties-inspired R&B (which is kind of reminiscent of a Ja Rule/Ashanti collaboration), where IamDJStaxx and WaveGodTj continues to light up the feel-good joint with some fiery bars.
In the second half of ‘Lost Talent 3’, IamDJStaxx calls on fellow NY rapper Rah Dior to inject a heavy dose of trip-hop that runs deep in tracks ‘Like Me,’ ‘Bandz,’ and ‘Flingz,’ where the two take turns in dropping some melodic bars that melt right into the arrangements.
IamDJStaxx’s final installment, ‘Lost Talent 3, ’ encompasses the past and the present, which can potentially be a worthy collection of generations who enjoyed the 90s/00s R&B and trap and even drill music. Check out the EP below and the blog’s song recommendations:
Must Listens: InA Minute, It Is What It Is, Flingz
Nigerian singer-songwriter H.O.M.A’s single, ‘Complicated’ displays the constant emotional roller-coaster experienced in romantic relationships.
The single came to fruition by chance in a recording session, when producer Killer confined in H.O.M.A, producer, Abel Lead Us and other members of the team, about an argument he had with his significant other. Killer’s predicament created a downbeat and moody ambience in the recording studio which influenced the overall tone of the record.
Produced by Killer producer and Abel Lead Us on the strings, ‘Complicated’ is a slow-burning contemporary R&B record, with highly emotive lyrics songwriting and performance. H.O.M.A. portrays a melancholic and susceptible picture, taking a more sedating route than his previous two music offerings in ‘Bamboozle’ and ‘Move your body’.
‘Complicated’ is taken from H.O.M.A’s upcoming mixtape, ‘Compilation 2.’ Have a listen below…
London artist BLISS WILLIAMS‘ new single, ‘A Thousand Times Before’, sees him reflecting on growing up in a small town and not quite knowing whether to miss it or not. Propelled by drums from Ben Gordelier of the Paul Weller band, this is a wistful disco-infused number that’s perfect for those summer days ahead.
‘A Thousand Times Before’ follows Bliss’ previous releases ‘Tearaway’ and ‘Make Time For Mourning’, which were championed by John Kennedy on Radio X and Gary Crowley at BBC Radio London respectively.
‘A Thousand Times Before’ was released last Friday (10th June) on Paul Weller bassist Andy Crofts’ label, Colorama Records.
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