Tag: indie music

Nezsa Takes Revenge On An Ex-Lover On Alt-R&B Single, ‘Trouble’

Having recently been selected as the next ‘Africa Rising’ artist by Apple Music, on the back of the success of her latest single ‘Break’, which has garnered over 100K plays online, and been spotlighted on Apple Music’s ‘New Music Daily’ and ‘R&B Now’, and Spotify’s ‘Fresh Finds’ and ‘Mood Ring’, alternative R&B singer and songwriter NEZSA is back again with an exquisite new single titled ‘Trouble’.

Taken from her anticipated sophomore EP To All The Heartbreakers, which arrives in the summer, ‘Trouble’ is a brilliant genre-bending R&B offering, driven by Nezsa’s enchanting voice, layered harmonies and vivid storytelling lyrics. The ethereal track sees the Canada-based Nigerian rising star standing up to a toxic ex-lover, and pushing back against their cheating, gaslighting and lying ways, over lush synth keys, infectious 808 drum patterns, and a glorious saxophone arrangement that perfectly punctuates the track.

Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘Trouble’, Nezsa says, “‘Trouble’ came to me so naturally. Gbeduboss sent me the beat and I was immediately enthralled by the heavy baseline and overall dark vibe. The story is inspired by some of my own experiences, but it’s also dedicated ‘To All the Heartbreakers’, just as the EP is named. It’s a very empowering song because it’s about standing up to those who’ve hurt you and reclaiming your agency, finally showing them that you’re not weak. In a way, it’s dark because it seems to celebrate revenge, but I think that functions as a therapeutic form of expression in showing myself and also my listeners the extent of our capabilities”.

Noteworthy for her effortless fusion of alternative R&B and neo-soul, her distinctly unforgettable vocals, and her intricate lyricism, Nezsa first burst onto the scene in the summer of 2019 with her debut tracks ‘Lost’ and ‘Like This?’, which quickly attracted global listeners, and caught the attention of emPawa. Partnering with the Mr Eazi-founded label service, Nezsa released her debut EP Bitter-Sweet last summer to rave reviews from fans and critics alike, before taking a hiatus last year to work on her sophomore EP, which arrives in the summer, led by ‘Break’ and the brand new ‘Trouble’. Check it out below…

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Song of the Day: No Caroline (Remix) – ATO x FLOHIO

Rising rapper ATO returns to share a special new remix of his introspective banger ‘no caroline’ with added fire from British-Nigerian artist, rapper and songwriter FLOHIO, landing alongside a fresh docu-style video shot in sun-soaked Leeds and London.

The three-minute production was shot between North-East Leeds (Chapeltown/Potternewton park – the neighbourhood where ATO’s dad lived when he was growing up) and around west London (the first area he lived when he moved to the city at 18), both areas feel like home and provide the perfect visual texture for the rebirth of this track filled with real moments that make up life for ATO. In a serendipitous moment of full circle following the original single taken from ATO’s 2021 EP Side A via MCMXCV that saw him open up and deep dive into his own emotional shortcomings rooted in his experiences, Flohio’s lyrical addition delivers a strong statement of self belief backed up by refresh of ATO’s hook.

Speaking on the remix, ATO says: “When No Caroline was first made, there were a million ideas for which direction to take the song, so a remix felt inevitable. I wanted it to be in the same world of the original but with a new dynamic, to make it feel more like a rebirth than a remix. I’ve loved Flohio’s music for a minute! I believe she is one of the most unique and authentic artists in the UK. Putting Flo on the first verse felt like a natural way to kick off the song with new energy. Once Flo layed her verse, we started looking at ways to tie the new dynamic together. Following Flo, it felt like the hook needed something new. We came up with a response melody that was initially intended for me. Eden ended up laying down the demo and it just felt great, so we kept it that way. This approach captures the process of making the remix: being open minded to completely fresh ideas.”

Leeds-based and of British-Ghanaian-Danish descent, ATO is one of the most exciting new artists on the rise, using his music to reflect on his life and show an alternative side to the London-centric perception of Black Britishness. Bubbling up the scene since his 2019 collaboration ‘falling’ featuring Vic Mensa on his The Fader endorsed EP3, 2021 proved to be his biggest year yet with his acclaimed EP Side A (“Muscle Twitch”, “ziamonds !!”) garnering support from key tastemakers and broadsheets alike including The Observer, The Independent, DJ Target, Crack, Highsnobiety and DJ Mag who nominated him for their Best Of British Awards in the “Breakthrough MC” alongside ENNY, KAM-BU, Nova and DoRoad.

Hailing from Bermondsey, South London , FLOHIO draws inspiration from her surroundings and day-to-day experiences to create a sound that is quintessentially London as it is extra-terrestrial. Since exploding onto the scene in 2018 with her high-octane COLORS performance of ‘Bands’, the South London native has since cemented her status as an unpredictable talent who is as exhilarating as she is impossible to pigeonhole.

Check out the official video for ‘no caroline’ below, directed by Eve Mahoney.

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Listen To Rubber’s Brand New Single, ‘Fries & Wings’

Philly-based duo RUBBER‘s single, ‘Fries & Wings’, takes elements of 90s-2000s R&B and repackages them with a more modern approach. It employs a simple catchy chord progression played on a rich and warm electric piano, complemented by a soothing vocal performance, all glued together by an energetic drum machine pattern and a fat bass line- a signature Rubber flare.

The group is a writing-producing duo made up of singer-lyricist, Andrew Loper, and producer/multi-instrumentalist, John Della Franco formed during their time studying at Temple University in 2018. They started out writing music for fun, but after performing for the first time together in a campus coffee shop, they were signed to the Temple University Record Label and released their first single to critical acclaim sending them up and down the East Coast. The duo shines the brightest in a live setting where their combination of bass-driven grooves and vocal acrobatics has grabbed and held the attention of audiences across the country.

Check out the video for ‘Fires & Wings’ below…

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Song of the Day: Do It Like That – Caitlin Min Fa

CAITLIN MIN FA‘s latest single, ‘Do It Like That’ is a real mood booster acknowledging that you’re just happy being and doing you. Whether it was during lockdown or back to normal life, we’re all creatures of habit and routine in some way shape or form; from making your bed in the morning to getting your usual coffee order, from what you wear every day to the late nights binge watching TV shows and knowing that you’ll regret that last episode in the morning.

Produced by Melbourne’s ARIA award winner Rob Amoruso, the song glides into Anne Marie territory with a smooth indie pop vibe. Its bubblegum pop rhythms are glossy and fresh, not only showcasing Caitlin’s unique musical talent, but getting into this deja vu mentality of ‘leave me here’, ‘I’m happy this way’, ‘can we do it all again?’. You’re happy being you, loving your day and this journey of life.

‘Do It Like That’ is a song that belongs on radio with it’s bold energy that contrasts a playful and vulnerable attitude simultaneously.

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K Harrison Makes A Quick Return With Second Single, ‘Fire Fire’.

Not many rappers in the UK scene can say they’ve been co-signed by a major US rapper after their first release — but that’s exactly what kind of power K HARRISON harbors. Hailing from Derby, the rising East Midlands wordsmith might only have one official song out, but he’s already championed by Compton rap legend The Game, as well as working side-by-side with the nation’s favourite redhead Ed Sheeran. Following his highly successful debut ‘Boss (Call Away)’, K Harrison is back with his sophomore single ‘Fire Fire’.

Once again opting for a tropical soundscape, K Harrison delivers a sun-warped Mediterranean-inspired banger, housing a syrupy vocal timbre and breezy flows. Despite its three-minute runtime, ‘Fire Fire’ is jam-packed with K Harrison’s signature charisma and charm.

Bringing the heat to the glass and concrete-bound Derby metropolis, ‘Fire Fire’ couldn’t come at a better time as summer planning, antics and hot weather creep up on the horizon. Standing worlds apart from his fellow Midlands MCs (Sainté, MIST, M1llionz etc.) K Harrison aims to provide party soundtracks, sharp lyricism and pure musical escapism, which is aided by the accompanying visuals that feature model Mina Jay, who has just won the ‘Miss Europe Continental’ title.

‘Fire Fire’ follows directly on from the aforementioned ‘Boss (Call Away)’ which was released back in March 2022. The Certi Beats-produced track was an ode to the titular female ‘Boss’. Currently, ‘Boss (Call Away)’ is sitting at well over 62,000 streams on Spotify and 170,000 views on YouTube.

K Harrison is putting the finishing touches on his forthcoming debut LP, and ‘Fire Fire’ is a great taster of we can expect from him in the near future….Check out the music video for the single below…
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