Song of the Day: Flip IT – ThBenj

Italian singer, rapper, songwriter and producer  THBENJ slams down his fourth single for the year, ‘Flip IT’.

The latest release is a fun, upbeat number which he hopes encourages people across the globe to create and keep creating with a goal in mind, instead of chasing money.

Out now on all major download/streaming sites, ‘Flip IT’ follows the release of singles, ‘2020’ which hit radio stations in eight cities in the USA, ‘Reasöns’ and ‘Y’. His debut album, ‘T.H.B’, hit number one on Google Play for Hip Hop in Italy when it released in June 2019 and was listed the number one album for 2019 by New Lease Music!.

Check out ThBenj’s video for ‘Flip IT’, which was filmed at home while in isolation.

Duñe x Crayon Shares ‘The One / Ten Years’ Live Session Video

Credit: Paul Perrault

The KCRW and COLORS-tipped Parisian producer duo, DUÑE x CRAYON, have recently unveiled their new live session video for single, ‘The One / Ten Years’, taken from their forthcoming debut album, ‘Hundred Fifty Roses’, out now via Roche.

‘The One / Ten Years’ live session further mines the duo’s penchant for downtempo electronica and tar-thick production techniques, segueing between soul, G-funk, and R&B. Hundred Fifty Roses – as an album – looks to tell the story of the over-connected and often over-stimulating world that we live in. Somewhat dystopian in its exploration, the album, which touches on the sounds of J Dilla, MF Doom and Kaytranada, paints the world of a man out of touch with himself.

Before working together, the pair of producers, who met in 2014 as Roche Musique signings, have forged out successful solo careers with Crayon – previously signed to Kitsuné where he cut his teeth alongside Yuksek – releasing two EPs to-date, securing praise at Pitchfork and more along the way. As well as creating his own music, the artist has racked up a string of production credits working with tipped names from the French electronic and R&B underground scene – Ichon, Blow and L’Or du Commun to name but a few.

Duñe, on the other hand, was championed from the off via Roche Musique, initially as part of the hip-hop duo, Saje, before releasing his own solo material. As well as working on production for the likes of Swing, Julien Granel, and Blow, Duñe has established himself as a prominent live artist on the label’s roster, performing across South Korea, China, Canada, and more.

Sit back, relax and press play on Duñe x Crayon’s ‘The One / Ten Years’ live session video. You can also catch the single via Spotify.

Makk Mikkael Overcomes ‘Fear’ With Inspiring New Single

It’s great to see MAKK MIKKAEL back on the blog with her first release of the year titled, ‘Fear’.

The Canadian singer/songwriter was previously featured with singles, ‘How It Feels’ and ‘Jungle’ – which ranked at number 7 on NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten singles of 2017 list.

While both tracks take on a downtempo urban-electro vibe, ‘Fear’ possesses pure electronic soundscapes with driving rhythms cruising throughout the production, giving it a feathery feel. ‘Fear’ represents a vulnerable chapter in Makk’s life where she was living by herself in an unsure time, feeling super liberated and nerve-wracked at the same time. Through this experience, the rising talent hopes to instill in others that it’s OK to not feel 100% all the time…and it’s perfectly fine to express how you’re feeling however scary it feels.

Produced by Alex Lustig, ‘Fear’ follows Makk Mikkael’s debut EP, ‘Nudes & Clouds’. Check it out below…

Song of the Day: Smells Like Sex – Sizzy Rocket

Following her debut appearance on the blog with sizzling punk-pop track, ‘That Bitch’, SIZZY ROCKET returns with something that no shirking violet can handle…

Inspired by the iconic Marcy Playground song ‘Sex and Candy,’ Sizzy’s latest track, ‘Smells Like Sex’, is a full-on ‘sex positive anthem’ with boastful electro-pop arrangements, topped off by  risqué wordplay that will leave you hot under the collar.

So if you can handle the heat in the kitchen, check out ‘Smells Like Sex’ below…

UK R&B Raising Talent Ricardo Williams Returns With ‘Raindrops’

After an amazing 2019, which witnessed Williams release his critically acclaimed debut EP and two sold out live headline shows (London & Birmingham), RICARDO WILLIAMS back with new single ‘Raindrops’.

Premiered on BBC1 Xtra, ‘Raindrops’ is the first of 2 new singles set for this summer. William’s latest release is a fun, sexy mid tempo R&B Jam, filled with tantalising vocals and clever wordplay. It wouldn’t be a Ricardo Williams song if it didn’t pay homage to an R&B classic and he sure does that with a nod to SWV’s ‘Rain.’

Check it out below…