Tag: indie music

EP Review: Reset II – Obsidian Cane

In the midst of unprecedented times brought by Covid-19 pandemic back in March 2020, London producer OBSIDIAN CANE was about to throw in the towel as the uncertainty of the music industry took its toll; with clubs and music festivals shutting down one by one. As he was about to turn his back on the music industry for good, his manager gave him one piece of valuable advice and that was to: keep releasing music. After all, people will be listening to music more than ever, now they were effectively in complete isolation. Following the advice of his manager, Obsidian produced a collection of music and his debut EP Reset was born.

Released on August 2020, Reset EP signifies the rebirth of his musical direction under a new alias. In his former life, Obsidian Cane scored a club hit, ‘I Need a Rhythm’ as UKG duo KP with fellow acclaimed producer Paul Benjamin. He also produced music for BBC1, BBC2, amongst others. As his new direction in the music industry goes from strength to strength, Obsidian released his second EP Reset II, where he called upon three promising upcoming singers/songwriters who are holding their own in London’s music scene: Joy Ami, Ferraz and Stacey Pierre – all of which their featured tracks signifies the EP theme of regrowth.

Joy Ami’s ‘Mr. Creep’ and Ferraz’s ‘Shine’ both tell the story of breaking away from the overbearing and controlling partner, feeling completely freeing themselves from the language that was set upon them, thus feeling renewed. Stacey Pierre concludes the mini project with a different perspective of renewal with ‘Secret Place’: the message of this single is that it’s OK to step into your personal to regained your yourself in order to fight another day.

Sonically, the EP possesses that familiar sound of UKG, that’ll be most welcomed to the nostalgics of the 90s version of the genre, while simultaneously sitting well with the younger generation thanks to its fresh spin.

Released on Christmas Eve, ‘Reset’ II EP was perfectly timed for release into the new year, as subconsciously it provokes all of us to release ourselves from all the luggage that’s weighting us down and look forward to be a better (and revitalised) version of ourselves.

Take a listen now…

Must listen: Shine, Secret Place

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Johnny Kulo Unveils His New Single, ‘Poseidon’

Berlin-based, Indian artist and producer, JOHNNY KULO is the bridge between old-school soul and modern R&B. The son of a reverend, he was inevitably playing drums in church before he could form sentences, exploring several other instruments until eventually realizing his love for songwriting and production. He uses his sultry-smooth voice to tell personal and perceived stories of love, heartbreak and unsettled identity.

An ode to choosing ignorance, his latest single, ‘Poseidon’ revolves around asking questions about past relationships, through a rhetorical sentiment. It explores the feelings of arrogance and confidence that arise after one gain’s hindsight overtime in regards to their past. The track also portrays an overall sense of apathy for the future stemming from exhaustion. Have a listen below…

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Song of the Day: Keepsake – Handbook

One decade after his debut album ‘Handprints’, HANDBOOK returns with ‘Keepsake’, featuring two sublime tracks, instrumental ‘Keepsake’ and ‘No End’ featuring rapper, Supreme Sol who gets into the lush hip-hop cooking with the finest chill spicy soulful ingredients.

For the single Keepsake, Handbook says: “This track conjures up feelings of security. There is a feeling of being centred that anchors the piece, as well as a feeling of being content and happy. A keepsake is a memento, a reminder of someone, or somewhere, one has left behind: this is how music can work sometimes – it takes you back to a certain time, and a certain place.“

So go on, have a listen to ‘Keepsake’ and ‘No End’… and if you like what you hear, be sure to look out for his full length LP coming out this spring.

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Song of the Day: Leg Or Arm – GirlzluhDev

Inland Empire rapper GIRLZLUHDEV‘s sensual single ‘Leg or Arm’ brings a bit of summer warmth to the depths of winter. The track, which is out now on Capitol Records, is built around soft keyboards and West Coast bounce that provide a canvas for Dev’s mischievous and fun vocals.

The dizzy, intimate production of ‘Leg or Arm’ feels like a dreamy afternoon in the California sun. It’s pure warmth, an escape from the troubles of the world. Dev flows like a breeze, sipping Shirley Temples, messing around with a girl, and playfully wondering if he’ll end up being talked about in her groupchat. When he croons about “riding round with blicky and designer clothes,” it sounds less like a threat than a positive affirmation. Dev places gangsta tropes in new contexts, making every bar feel like a celebration. He’s the fun-loving ball of energy and melody that rap needs, next in a lineage of West Coast rap-singers.

‘Leg or Arm’ follows a hot streak of memorable singles from Dev, including the pounding ‘Gas Me Up’ and the sombre ‘Dead Bro.’ This track kicks off a new year for the 18-year-old rising star as he continues to build on the success that began with 2020’s ‘Tooka,’ which launched him to the national stage and earned him a deal with Capitol. The game needs rappers as charismatic as Dev, and with each passing track, he’s proving that he’s rare indeed. Dev has amassed over 34 million streams in the U.S. alone.

Check out the video for single below…

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OUT TODAY: Listen To Darren Parry’s Single, ‘Unconditional Love’

Hot on the heels of his summer ear worm track, ‘Summer Of Love’, multi-award winning Welsh, singer/songwriter DARREN PARRY returns and treats us to a stunning ballad entitled ‘Unconditional’.

Darren says of the meaning behind the latest single… “If you describe something as unconditional, you mean that the person doing or giving it does not require anything to be done by other people in exchange or return”.

‘Unconditional’ was co-written with ex Jesus Christ Superstar lead Steve Balsamo (who’s written for Slash, Meatloaf, Cliff Richard and who also co-wrote Darren’s summer track ‘Summer Of Love’) and one of Wales’ top vocalists/performers, Lee Gilbert.

The single was written via Zoom during the lockdown periods, initially for a Hollywood film, which featured a 12-year-old-boy saying a tearful farewell to his father. Due to lockdown restrictions in the US, the film did not go ahead – but the song still remains!

So without further ado, it’s time to listen to Darren new heartfelt single below…

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