Song of the Day: Fit For A King – Tilly Valentine

After accumulating over 175,000 streams with three self-released singles, whilst gaining coverage across BBC Radio One, BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Radio 6 Music, electronic jazz singer/songwriter, TILLY VALENTINE adds latest effort ‘Fit For A King’ to her impressively growing discography.

Possessing a fresh take of R&B/soul with a hint of jazz, giving the almost three-minute production a vibrant uplift, ‘King For A King’ essentially chronicles when a person doesn’t know when they’re in a perfect relationship – that’s fit for a king!

Before its release last month, ‘Fit For A King’ was featured on BBC Radio One with Huw Stephens, as well as being added to BBC Sounds ‘The Hot List’ and gained further support from BBC Radio 1Xtra.

This one’s a nice little cracker! Check it out below…

Soulful Jazz Band Céline And The Blue Delivers Stunning Single, ‘Learn To Be Alone’

Hailing from London, five-piece soulful jazz outfit CÉLINE AND THE BLUE are definitely needed in today’s music industry. Starting out the summer of 2018, the female-fronted act seem to have possess a strong connection of a band who have been jamming out together for ten or so years.

Their latest single, ‘Learn To Be Alone’ – released last Friday (15th November) – showcases their signature vibe of an alluringly smooth soulful jazz, coupled with vibrant overtones, making the three-and-minute production instantly addictive.

‘Learn To Be Alone’ is the cool cats’ third release of this year, following singles, ‘Hide In Your World’ and ‘Just You’, which received attention from the likes of BBC Berkshire – I highly recommend you to check them out sometime…but for now, have a listen to ‘Learn To Be Alone’ below…

Keltoum delivers a superb jazzy soul jam, ‘Stop To Play’.

Taken from her debut eponymous EP, ‘Stop To Play’ is the latest single to be released from KELTOUM. The fast-emerging artist from France is already being compared to leaders in her field like Sade, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu as her neo-soul and pop influences caress from all sides. An original composer and player KELTOUM also brings to the table a unique French sensibility which demonstrates the sort of warmth felt by Janet Jackson or perhaps Alicia Keys at their most impassioned. The list of greats she could be compared to could go on but KELTOUM herself has struck her own blend of jazz and smoky vocal which is hard not to melt away to.

KELTOUM has already picked up fans across the board including some distinguished influencers like Gilles Peterson among others at Jazz FM and beyond. Her live show is also on another level as the energy of her trio seem to get the best of her tantalizing subtle soul voice bringing emotion to all who see her play, such as those who attended Gilles’ Worldwide festival in Sète last year where she completely bowled over the crowd.

Check out ‘Stop To Play below…and while you’re at it…take out and listen to her EP – ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.

New Music Video: Misty Head/Sunny Street – Oscar Jerome

Ahead of his tour with Kamasi Washington, OSCAR JEROME revealed his striking new video for latest single ‘Misty Head / Sunny Street’ alongside the announcement of his next London show which will see him make the ascent from EartH to Heaven – with his biggest headliner to date booked at the latter venue for November 19th 2019.

The new video sees the warped jazz-indebted funk of ‘Misty Head / Sunny Street’ – supported by the likes of 6 Music, Radio 1 and 1Xtra – set against a thought-provoking video that explores themes of gender, identity and self-expression. The four-minute production was made in collaboration with director Sam Rigal and Oscar’s brother Alfie Laurence, aka Moth, who is a drag and performance artist whose surreal androgynous work using himself as a canvas aims to dissect and subvert notions of gender, beauty and the alien other.

‘Misty Head / Sunny Street’ is the latest addition to a vibrant back-catalogue that’s unquestionably marked Oscar out as a tour de force in the burgeoning London jazz scene that he calls home.

Clap your eyes on the video for ‘Misty Head/Sunny Street below:

EP Review: The Flux Session – Any Gama

New York’s Jazz Fusion Group ANY GAMA makes no apologies for what they stand for and jam out their own pieces as well as leaving a distinct mark on classics through their latest EP entitled, ‘The Flux Session.’

Led and founded by Israeli pianist Roni GBZ Jr, ANY GAMA gives a rather upbeat introduction through ‘Running Away’ where the bold and the flirtatious trumpets takes the limelight with raciness yet elegant presence of the piano keys providing the perfect bluesy backdrop.

While more of their original pieces such as ‘Boredom of a Friday’s Afternoon’ and ‘Softly Touching’ provides the stunningly tranquil side of the collection, the epic moment (personally) lies with their interpretation of David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’, a  tranquil piano-led piece, in which the trumpets gives an euphoric build up while not straying too far away from the 70s classic.

This instrumental EP does very well without utilising any vocals, as each instrument in all the arrangements take their place to convey the message that’s more prominent than any spoken word.

Have a listen to ‘The Flux Session’ below:

To purchase the EP, head to their website

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