New Track: Billions – Locals Sound Only

Both an artist project and a prolific Toronto based-producer collective, LOCALS ONLY SOUND was conceived by classmates Gray Hawken and Curtis Smith. Hawken and Smith write, record and release their own music as LOCALS ONLY SOUND in addition to producing and developing new talent and bringing a fresh perspective and unique sound to established artists.

Their new single ‘Billions’ showcases their appreciation for alt-electronic music combined with R&B vocals and modern beats.

Check out the fittingly dark, lo-fi visual below:

 

 

Song of the Day: Over & Done – MH The Verb

MH THE VERB drops another standout joint from his 2017 Afronaut project entitled ‘Over & Done’, which serves as an anthem of self-pride.

Apropos to National Women’s Month the accompanied music video, directed Bob Sweeney, champions two Philly based female artists of colour who are succeeding and advancing in their respective male-dominated fields: glass artist Kim Thomas and flow artist/fire dancer Alicia Talia.

Check out the slamming banger below:

Song of the Day: Never Growing Older – Amery

Championed by Elton John, EARMILK, ELLE, PopCrush, OkayAfrica and Buzzfeed, AMERY comes blazing onto today’s hotspot with 80s-inspired pop single, ‘Never Growing Older’.

Born in Rwanda, the young musician was raised for many years by his grandmother, surrounded by women in a very strict and religious environment where pop culture was seen as an enemy of traditional values. “My grandma would tell me to not act like ‘those crazy guys on TV’”, AMERY remembers.

Following his arrival in Belgium at 12, the singer discovered different cultures and communities, and found more ways to express himself. After feeling like an outsider for most of his life, in a black community where men are expected to act tough, he decided it was time for him to learn to accept his singularity and embrace his feminine side.

With ‘Never Growing Older’, AMERY aims to finally get this off his chest. Produced and arranged by James Lowland, the track is a conversation with himself, debating with his thoughts, his fears and all the society rules that can hypnotize and restrain.

The 22-year-old further explains: “This song is about me taking back control after battling with myself, and my fears, for so long. I wrote it while having a rough time trying to figure out who I am, burying and changing some parts of me. I came to the conclusion that I could never change who I am. All the things I have been through, the struggles and the achievements, make me who I am today.”

‘Never Growing Older’ is now available on all streaming platforms…have a listen below:

New Track: Stranger – Dani Darling

Following her debut feature on NEW LEASE MUSIC with music video for single, ‘2:22’ – which was named Music Video of the Month in February (see Instagram post here) –  DANI DARLING (aka Soul Galaxy Girl) makes a graceful return with her haunting yet angelic new single, ‘Stranger,’ the first release from her forthcoming EP, ‘Nocturne.’

Speaking of her latest effort, the Michigan lo-fi soul songbird said: ” ‘Stranger’ was initially the start of a jazzy musical I planned to write with a friend. The idea was to create a modern version of a jazz standard like Cole Porter or Gershwin; something Nat King Cole would sing. It started with exploring the concept of growing apart from someone you were once very close to and ‘Stranger’ was the first (and only) song I wrote for that project; it kind of took on a life of its own.It was the result of a live recording in one take.”

Released on Friday (26th April), ‘Stranger’ is now available on all digital platforms…this will make a nice start to your Monday; check it out below:

EP Review: My Body My Soul Vol.1 – Natty Boi Zoe

NATTY BOI ZOE‘s latest EP, takes on a rather lascivious view of his love interest…

Displaying familiar samples of afterhours vibes and atmospheric/alternative take on R&B, the self-proclaim street poet delivers his yearning lust for his significant other in a cross between a velvety freestyle and his new-found spoken word signature.

‘My Body, My Soul Vol.1’ is definitely a collection for hanging out with some friends..or that special one…but for all those shrinking violets out there, the lyrics may be too hot to handle…but if you dare to have a listen, check it out below…

Must Listens: 7am, Smile Luv, Something To Tell, Beauty