Song of the Day: Life Waters – Jaz Valentino

Out now via Canadian indie label and collective Day7 Records, JAZ’S BLUES (SIDE A) is the brand new sophomore album from Toronto hybrid artist, songwriter, and musician JAZ VALENTINO. The 8-track album is the second full-length project in two years from the Grenadian-Serbian native, following last year’s introductory album Day 7, which led to Jaz Valentino reaching the milestone of garnering his first million streams on Spotify alone.

The melodic rap and R&B fusion album Jaz’s Blues (Side A) was preceded by two well-received lead singles that were released to open Jaz Valentino’s 2022 – the Buckroll Beats-produced ‘Snowflakes’, which has garnered over 100,000 plays online, and the recently released introspective offering produced by Arcane Beats titled ‘Wild Weeds’, which is currently being supported by Live Nation’s Ones To Watch, 1883 Magazine, Earmilk and Word Is Bond Magazine, among others.

Jaz’s Blues (Side A) opens with ‘Farmers Land’, a tribute to Jaz Valentino’s father, who passed away from liver cancer when Jaz was only 13, before digging deeper into his trust issues on ‘Eunoia’, addressing his friendships on songs like ‘King City’ and ‘Like Minds’, refocusing on his faith on ‘Blue F’, and closing out the album with ‘Life Waters’, which is about starting over with a clean slate, and features Jaz’s grandmother, who practically raised him.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the album, Jaz Valentino says, “‘Jaz’s Blues (Side A)’ is me baring my soul in the music about the last three years of my life and what I’ve been going through. Flowers come out of the growth process, but no one talks about the pain the bud or seedling go through in the process, and this is what the album represents. I wrote these songs through the pandemic, through finding my feet in the music industry, through countless rejections and breakups.

Born and raised in Canada, Jaz Valentino’s music blurs the line between the classic warm tones of R&B and the dynamism of modern hip-hop, while still leaning on his special connection with R&B and rap music. Notable for his evocative sounds, lush melodies, layered texture, captivating hook and introspective lyrics, Jaz Valentino has long been able to connect with listeners on a deeper level, using his ‘less is more’ philosophy to make sure his mixes are not overly crowded, and his songs feel spacious and lush, with plenty of room for his songwriting to stick out.

Now it’s time for you to check out the official video for Jaz’s ‘Life Waters’ below…

Song of the Day: Ancient Alibi – Akif Daboor

An artist in the making, AKIF DABOOR, expresses how blessed he is to come from an Egyptian ancestry through his latest single, ‘Ancient Alibi.’ Hailing from New York, the young spitter showcases his distinct flow and raw lyrical energy over a smooth, old-school boom-bap sample.

Citing hip-hop luminaries such as 2Pac, Big L, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., and Kanye West as his main influences, Akif started rapping at the young age of 17. Today, he indeed shows the prospective listener that he’s a serious rap contender ready to lock horns in this music industry.

Check out ‘Ancient Alibi’ below…

Song of the Day: Making Out With Vampires – Amanda Frances

AMANDA FRANCES is a post-pop artist, songwriter, videographer and Web3 innovator hailing from Toronto. The multidisciplinary artist is also COO of Sadboy Records, one of Canada’s fastest growing indie labels.

Frances has quickly turned heads with her razor sharp wit and glitchy pop productions. Featuring cheeky one-liners, her single, ‘making out with vampires came to light after she learned what love should, and shouldn’t be, and how to protect her own energy.

With a six -track visual album set to drop this year, Frances demonstrates a drive to innovate by dropping her genesis NFT project with decent.xyz for the upcoming debut EP, attachment theory, produced by JUNO-nominated producer, Father Bobby Townsend.

Have a listen to Amanda’s ‘making out with vampires’ below…

Kadi Unveils Touching Beautifully Raw Single, ‘Blood’

On receiving support from BBC Radio Kent with single ‘Silver Lining’, emerging pop-soul singer/songwriter from KADI follows up with another emotive offering titled ‘Blood’.

Bearing the burdens on this track, Kadi reveals her inner thoughts. ‘Blood’ is about family and realising that behind our roles we are all human beings, imperfect people and it’s up to us to build that relationship.

Speaking of the track, the South East Londoner says: “I wrote this song at the park after an argument, I remember being really unhappy and I was thinking about all the chaos and hardship that occurred in my childhood.”

Kadi released her debut single ‘Unlearn’ 2020 and then followed up with ‘Short and Sweet’. This year sees the 23-year-old continuing to unveil her story through her music…so get the taste of her experiences and have a listen to ‘Blood’ 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…