New Music Video: Waters Run Deep – Coco (ft. Shola Ama)

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COCO continues his rapid ascent with the release of the compelling Waters Run Deep featuring an inspired collaboration with the urban scene’s sweetheart, Shola Ama and fellow Sheffield spitter, Deep Green.

The soft instrumental bed radiates a warm and deeper edge to COCO’s sound as he leads his vocals from Shola Ama on the opening hook. From the instrumental, the variance in tone of the three contributing vocals accentuates mystery and empathy, whilst  displaying a raw edge of reality from the rougher vocals of COCO and Deep Green.

The Sheffield emcee’s artistic unpredictability and vision to experiment with different flavours and styles has made for an inspired catalogue of music over the last 18 months, resulting in him hitting the polls as one of the ’15 MC’s Out Of London You Need To Know Today’ via Complex Magazine and being chosen as ‘One To Watch in 2016’ for MixMag by Annie Mac. From the hefty grime remix of Big N Serious with MOBO nominees AJ Tracey and Nadia Rose, through to his recent Jamaican-peppered collaboration with Protoje, (making him the first UK act to collaborate with one of the biggest reggae stars across a grime beat), COCO has taken a fearful and inspiring route to releasing music in 2016; making the music speak for itself.

Finishing what has been a defining year for the Sheffield native, which has seen him perform at Glastonbury on the BBC Introducing stage, alongside Stormzy at Ibiza Rocks, Red Bull’s Manchester Carnival, Notting Hill Carnival, Bestival and the Royal Albert Hall for Jamie Cullum’s BBC Proms, this promising upriser gives an idyllic and retrospective send off to the year with Waters Run Deep – check out the video.

Song of the Day: Platinum & Gold – Basheba

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After experimenting in the studio with the hotly tipped producer, XVR BLCK, BASHEBA returns with new material inspired by the sounds of 90s RnB and contemporary bass. The sublime Platinum & Gold, is the first release taken off her latest E.P Axiom Part 2, out now.

Known for combining breakbeat and jungle rhythm in her previous work, Platinum & Gold marks an evolution in sound for the young artist. Her lyrics come straight from the heart and the dark soulful vocal delivery always stands out in her music, and it’s this, which she has been able to translate effortlessly to other areas, such as alt pop and R&B with the project.

BASHEBA‘s last track Don’t Go, garnered support across the board from tastemakers at 1Xtra, BBC Introducing and 6music and online by SBTV, Complex, 405, Fred Perry and MOBO Unsung and her latest project is another example of why she is one to watch – check it out!

Upcoming Release: Satellite – I AM WILLOW

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Having gained support from BBC Introducing, Q Magazine, and Time Out (Top 5 Rising Stars of 2015) over the past 12 months, London-based and classically trained singer-songwriter I.AM.WILLOW is all to set release for her highly anticipated single Satellite on 16th December.

In the almost four-minute production, the Malta-born musician utilises a cinematic-pop explosion of influences from Kate Bush and Tori Amos, highlighted by the contrasting subtlety and power of her vocals, melodic arrangements and evocative lyricism.

In 2009 I.AM. WILLOW was nominated and won ‘Best Songwriter’ and ‘Best Female Artist’ at the Malta Music Awards, prompting her decision to move to England. The opportunities followed; from recording sessions with Grammy Award winning producer Steve Orchard, to appearances at festivals and venues such as Jazz Café, Bush Hall, The Royal Festival Hall and The Great Escape. She signed her first publishing deal with Fairwood Music, in 2013.

Over the past year, Willow has scored two No.1 album cuts in Spain (Ghost Town by Auryn and Head For The Stars by Sweet California), No.5 in South Africa (Elizma Theron), features with two of the biggest selling recording artists in Japan and China (Koda Kumi and China Lin Kailun respectively) and several song placements used in film trailers in the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany and China, including US TV show Chasing Life, and French film Boomerang. WILLOW has also collected some famous fans along the way; legendary singer Annie Lennox offered her free studio time after hearing a private performance, and Sting booked her for his official after party during his Malta tour.

She now turns her focus to releasing new solo material with an EP to follow in 2017. Have a listen to her stunning single.

New Track: Cleopatra’s Eyes – Miss

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London-based electronic/rock duo MISS have unveiled their latest track, Cleopatra’s Eyes late last month – shifting from their notorious electrifying moody and dense soundscapes to infectious/sensual arrangements, which creates a rich warm sensation.

Time to spice up your Thursday…have a listen to Cleopatra’s Eyes.

New Music Video: Pixelate – Shaefri

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London-based electronic-pop artist SHAEFRI released a music video to her pulsating new single Pixelate.

The 22-year-old cuts her teeth on London’s scene over the last five years with gigs across the capital from The Roundhouse to The Borderline. Now, the elusive artist showcases her neatly refined electronic sound; a unique combination of influences derived from her mixed Irish-Egyptian heritage, offset with the pulse of the metropolis she calls home.

Recognised early on in Ireland, having been tipped as ‘number one new act to follow’ by Hot Press’, SHAEFRI has already secured coveted headline gigs in places such as Bush Hall, and Whelan’s. Now having developed her sultry siren songs, she spins tales of light and dark, tease and torture with a lengthy attack on the soft and lukewarm pads, combined with minimal drums, dry finger snaps and offbeat twinkling plucks from production duo, J. Harvey Jones. The track creates a hugely atmospheric and emotive setting for the listener. SHAEFRI’s crisp vocals provide a wonderful contrast to the carefully crafted instrumental; her vocal crescendos accentuated by a more forceful tone and clipped syllables with the eerie and reflective essence of the track being maintained through her Irish glissandos.

Pixelate, the title track from her forthcoming EP, set for release early 2017, is darker than her earlier work. The more mature sound provides the perfect platform for lyrics that confront the growing pains of love, lust, and letting go. Her lyrics hit hard with cutting imagery, intense emotion, and seductive hooks that linger in the mind as it wonders over nights gone by. This is music that is unapologetic, affronting, and affirmative. Strength surges through every beat with a lesson in each line from SHAEFRI, the ever dominant and enchanting narrator.

The release of the well-written and produced track coincides with an official video release, directed by Gundeep Anand, edited by prestigious production house, The Mill and supported by renowned Director of Photography, Tom Elliot (A$AP Rocky). Pixelate, the video, is unique in the sense that it was brought to life by 40 fans who wanted to create a visual aesthetic that’s equally as haunting as the music itself. The video’s concept is forward-thinking as it focuses on how ‘pixelating’ can be taken out of context to represent emotions and relationships. The core message to be taken from the video is that sometimes we need to take a leap of faith and break free from all of our constraints and everything we know in order to rebuild ourselves as an image that is actually complete.

Check out the video to the single.