Shot across the tropics of Spain and the island of Mallorca, SC.UNDERCOVER‘s brand new video for single, ‘Deal With The Devil’, drips in James Bond edginess and tension. The cinematic aura carefully intertwines past projects as SCU explains, “We wanted the atmosphere to reflect the tone of the music but also provide the closing chapter in the trilogy of videos ranging from Darkness Before Light, Morals and finally now, Deal With The Devil”.
Born in Walsall (UK), SC.Undercover often blends influences of indie, dark pop and R&B, offering something distinctly unique in today’s industry. ‘Deal With The Devil’ is the perfect amalgamation of atmospheric production meets R&B, in true SCU style. The latest track takes unexpected twists and turns, mixing up his melodies and dynamics and adding to the knife-cutting apprehension. With fast, high-frequency beats, prowling guitar riffs and bass laced in haunting backing vocals reminiscent of The Weeknd, the single glides into a mesmerising break. Check it out below…
I was first introduced to CHERYLL through her smooth nostalgic number, ‘Fess Up’ and since then, I had my eyes firmly peeled on her next move. So when she dropped her debut EP Transition, I had to catch up with the South London singer-songwriter about the six track project. Trust me, this newcomer is FIREY and I thoroughly enjoyed the Q&A session with her and I hope you will too. Check her out below…
NLM Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How is 2021 treating you so far?
C: 2021 has been a year of change and transitioning into a better version of me. I’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs however I feel as if I’ve come out of it stronger than ever.
NLM: You released your EP, ‘Transition’ back in March. What is the public perception on the project so far?
C: My project was received extremely well. Its been played on BBC Radio as well as reaching a number of local radio stations that play it regularly. It has also introduced my sound to a lot of new supporters who now listen/follow me because of the project.
NLM: How would you describe the EP’s sound to potential fans?
C: It’s a new school version of RNB with the nostalgic elements of the 90/00’s – timeless!
NLM: What inspired you to produce the EP?
C: I’ve always known I wanted to release an EP however I was waiting on the right time. I felt like the last year I really transitioned into the artist I’ve always wanted to be and I wanted this project to be a memory of that. I had a few songs written already however when I linked up with D’wante Navire (producer) he really brought these songs to life. I had also gone through some ups and downs in my love life and wanted to express this through the EP.
NLM: What is/are your favourite single(s) from the EP and why?
C: My favourite singles on the EP I would have to say are Crushin’, Fess Up & What About Us. They all have that ‘bounce’ that I love even though they are all different tempos lol! I just find myself really vibing to those three
NLM: What message would you like the listeners to take away from your EP?
C: That R&B is still alive and kicking!
NLM: If you had to feature one mainstream artist on the EP, who would it be and why?
C: I’ve always wanted to work with Stormzy – I feel like having him on a feature would just be a perfect combination. His flow x My flow would just make so much sense.
NLM: Do you have other project(s) for 2021?
C: I have a couple of releases before the end of the year which are quite exciting. I won’t give away too much but yes its definitely something to look forward to.
London based polymath MATHS TIME JOY‘s single ‘Cut The BS’, his collaborative project with New York based artist Rich, was penned from the aftermath of an abusive relationship.
Sharing more behind the track Rich Shared: “I wrote this song after the fallout from the abusive relationship I sing about in Change. I would see my abuser’s friends every once in a while at parties and different social situations. My conversations with those friends always felt surface-level and overly-cordial. I felt like they weren’t being completely upfront, which led me to question who I could trust.”
‘Cut the BS’ is the third single to be revealed from the new project, the follow up to the emotive and passionate ‘Hoping You’d Call’. Earlier this year they debuted with ‘Change’, a beautiful, melancholy offering, born from the moment of realization Rich had that he was in an abusive relationship, an experience that has also fueled the creation of ‘Cut The BS’.
Quickly growing a reputation for their winning combination of flawless vocal talent and weightless, abstract production the pair have already scooped support from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, American Songwriter, Early Rising and Notion, not to mention a wealth of playlisting support across DSPs and love from the likes of Radio 1’s chillest record, Radio 4’s Iconic show Loose Ends and Elton John’s Rocket hour who coined their sound ‘Sensational’’.
Maths Time Joy is one of the UKs most multifaceted talents, a Grammy nominated recording artist, producer and DJ. Teamed with the unmistakable, widely acclaimed talent of Rich, the pair have a winning formula that is not to be missed. Check them out below…
After the highly anticipated ‘My City’ record was teased at various live performances by 88YAMI and Yourboymars, the track is finally out for your inspection! ‘My City’ is a homage to the 6K, also known as Perth, where both artists come from and credit as the city where they started their music career.
88YAMI has been a widely known name in Perth’s hip-hop & rap music scene with previous releases ‘The Plan’, ‘Mrs Sippy Queen’, and ‘Movement’ crossing over 250k streams collectively while being featured on prominent Spotify editorial playlists.
‘My City’ is a perfect showcase of 88YAMI’s catchy melodic rap sound, where he shows off his smooth delivery over a blend of soft guitar string melodies and an aggressive 808 kick, produced by Roki Beats.
For a track titled ‘My City’, fellow Perth artist Yourboymars was the perfect heavy hitter to come in on the second verse. The artist has created a huge buzz for his small but highly valuable discography that has been featured on multiple influential blogs, and prominent music streaming placements.
Check out the video for ‘My City’, directed by Seto Kiswoyo and Reid Garnaut.
A follow-up to the addictive his previous single ‘It Is What it Is,’ Nigerian Afropop sensation ADEKUNLE GOLD‘s latest offering, ‘Sinner,’ which features US R&B singer Lucky Daye, is inspired by the tragic story of King David and Bathsheba. The Marcel Akunwata-produced single is taken from Adekunle Gold’s upcoming album which is due out early autumn (via Platoon).
One of the most recognizable and exciting pioneers of the Afropop genre- currently dominating airwaves across the globe – mixing Afrobeat and Pop music and, Gold is one of the most elegant artists to come out of Africa.
Watch the official video for the single, featuring Lucky Daye and Gold’s wife, Afropop star Simi.
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