Tag: indie music

Rapper AyiTe Practice What He Preach In New Video

AYITE‘s long awaited DIY video for track ‘Practice/Preach’ was shot completely in isolation, which encapsulates key themes of the track using projected footage of famous protests and activism as well as subtle religious imagery.

The North London native has really utilise his time during lockdown by churning out a string of fresh material, as well as doing freestyle challenges and performances for Creative Con and Notion’s Lockdown Livestream Sessions, which attracts 85k followers.

Expect more music from this blazing wordsmith…but for now, check out the video for ‘Practice/Preach’ below…

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EP Review: KWESBAAR RMXS – Neak

NEAK‘s latest project, ‘KWESBAAR RMXS’ maybe a mini set of just five tracks, but it burst with influences, with his spin on hip-hop from the golden era (circa late 80’s), which is often met with rhythmic loops of 70s-style soulful vocals. Third effort ‘The Gift (Mashup)’, brings a little something different to the project as it taps into the boombap vibe working in unison with bluesy jazz tones for that tinging sensation.

‘KWESBAAR RMXS’ is a spin off from Neak’s critically acclaimed/self-produced full-length album, ‘KWESBAAR’ as it entails four new interpretations/remixes from that set plus new track, ‘Nothing To Lose, Inner City Blues’. Released year ago, ‘KWESBAAR’ accumulated over 30,000 streams with the first few weeks of its release. Neak’s lucid delivery gives a hard-hitting account of the trials and retributions of being an African-American male in America which, personally, feel (at times) that Kanye West is taking a shot on the collection.

‘KWESBAAR RMXS’ carries on the same theme of his everyday struggles that’s definitely worth a listen…check it out below…

Must Listens: The Gift (Mashup), My Life

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Song of the Day: Always Free – Barbarossa

British singer-songwriter and producer, James Mathé – aka – BARBAROSSA‘s euphoric single, ‘Always Free’, is a tender, emotively charged and electronically tinged piece. Written and recorded in December 2019, Mathé explains that the song is about mental freedom (any relevance to our current situation is purely coincidental):

“‘Always free’ is about me reminding myself that I always have access to freedom from my thoughts if I can find stillness and am open to change. I really struggle with this daily but sometimes a song/film/book/my kids or a conversation might remind me just how simple it can be to just let go of trying to control the outcome and get out of my comfort zone. That’s where the good shit is, it’s in those moments.”

Have a listen to Mathé’s first release of the year below…

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Otis Mensah Release Single, ‘Breath Of Life’

Hip-Hop artist and poet OTIS MENSAH‘s new single, ‘Breath of Life’, features a guest verse from Hemlock Ernst, (the rap alter ego of Samuel T. Herring from the critically acclaimed synth-pop Future Islands). Sporting a chilled, introspective soulful hip-hop vibe infused with a zestful flow, the Brelstaff-produced track explores anxiety, fear and claustrophobia.

Hailing from Sheffield, Otis Mensah combines vivid storytelling with atmospheric and experimental hip-hop sounds. Titled Sheffield’s poet laureate in 2018, Otis has worked and toured with heavyweights such as Benjamin Zephaniah, KOTA the Friend, Open Mike Eagle, Mahalia and Blu & Exile. Otis has also received praise and support from The Guardian, Earmilk and The Noise Gate among other outlets.

‘Breath of Life’ is part of Otis Mensah’s forthcoming project, #OtisMensahExists, a visual and audio compilation exploring the talented wordsmith’s relationships with isolation, technology and society.

Check out the video for single below…

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Song of the Day: A Work of Art – Lisabel

Italian-born/London based singer/songwriter, LISABEL has every potential to draw in the prospective listener with track, ‘A Work Of Art’. The soulful offering carries a nurturing tone that could be associated to the likes of Solange, Aretha Franklin and Erykah Badu.

Lisabel said of the single: “I wrote the song after falling in love with someone who to me represented a pure and loving soul that I trusted and wanted to celebrate.”

‘A Work Of Art’ is from her debut album bearing the same name, released earlier this month. Have a to this beautiful song listen below…

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