Manchester’s hip-hop collective ADS THE BARBARIAN have joined forces with London’s veteran producer REDD TUNES for the first EP of the year, ‘The Lone Ranger’.
Featuring members Fya Da Flame, DJ Hook Raida, DJ Cut and Slice, the three-track project features the smooth, retro vibes of hip-hop/boom bap, where the featured spitters take the spotlight to drop some serious bars on current affairs (namely the pandemic) and the hard knocks that life presents.
As well as teaming up with the Northern fierce crew, Redd Tunes have collaborated with various artists across the globe for the past 30 + years as a Britcore producer. If you’re not familiar with his work, here’s your chance to check it out here.
Before you head off to check out his catalogue, have a sample of Redd Tunes’ collab EP with Ads The Barbarian below…
UK R&B singer and songwriter CILLA RAIE leads 2022 with her brand new infectious sultry R&B single ‘Longtime’ produced by XVR Blck. Piercing together R&B sounds with a hint of drill, the single gives off a vintage aura with smooth and silky sonic vibes.
Speaking of her newest release, Cilla says: “Longtime was written with such ease and deep into the night, it represents a new era of growth for me. Which is a longtime coming, giving grown woman vibes and stepping into my divine feminine energy, going after what I want with no fear”.
In 2021, Cilla Raie released her ‘Reconnected’ EP which caught the attention of MTV, Wonderland Magazine, BBC 1Xtra, Capital Xtra as well as achieving This is R&B ‘10 R&B artists you should have on your Radar’. The EP peaked at number 2 on the UK Itunes R&B/Soul Album Charts garnering further support from Reprezent, Earmilk and Apple News.
Cilla Raie began recording music at just 14-years-old and takes inspiration from her early influences such as Aaliyah, Toni Braxton and Tamia. During the early stages of her musical journey, Cilla was mentored by super producer DaV-inche (Stormzy, Skepta, Wiley) and manager Jackie Davison MBE (Wayne Hector).
In 2014, Cilla Raie released her first self-titled debut project produced by Sillky (Mabel, Teedra Moses, Craig David) and The Arcade (Doja Cat, Khalid, Migos). She successfully embarked on a national school tour across the UK performing with legislation group UK Music. She also has a unique entrance to the music industry having graduated with a BA honours in Public Relations and a Masters degree scholarship in Music Business Management.
Cilla says: “These experiences I had juggling various part time jobs, being a student and doing music shaped and moulded me into the artist and independent entrepreneur that I am today being an independent artist”.
Her music reveals a deeper message for all: the importance of self-love, reassurance and confidence. 2022 will see the release of yet another exciting Cilla Raie EP supported by Help Musicians/MOBO Awards and Arts.
Get a taste of what’s to come from this young songbird below…
‘Pulling Me Closer’ marks the first single of 2022 from London based, singer, songwriter, poet and producer – AERIS ROVES . It follows on from 2021 records ‘Cairo’ and ‘Long Way Down’ which were well received after a 2 year hiatus.
Whilst ‘Cairo’ was about finding the gold in someone and ‘Long Way Down’ looked at the breakdown in communication during a relationship and the process of realigning with a partner – ‘Pulling Me Closer’ explores initial attraction and it’s unexpected intensity.
Speaking in more detail, Aeris reiterates “Pulling me closer – A song that started off as an unfinished acoustic idea on Instagram. It was shared by Billie Eilish. A trip to Los Angeles with Two Inch Punch offered the inspiration needed to finish the production. Thematically, it explores a situation of initial attraction, in that it’s unexpected and intense, pondering the fact that once it takes hold, it is very difficult to let go of.”
With influences deeply rooted in soul and modern R&B Aeris draws influence from The Drifters, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Majid Jordan and more. Growing up, Aeris would sing in local choirs gradually teaching himself guitar in his bedroom as an accompaniment.
His first commercial offering came in the form of a self-produced 2018 Soundcloud release, ‘Banks.’ The track garnered an initial buzz in the UK, quickly extending across the Atlantic where it was championed by US pop sensation Billie Eilish – She in turn invited him to support her on her European tour.
A successful run followed, cutting his live teeth and landing him a record deal with RCA where he released his debut LP ‘Moon By Island Gardens’ to much critical acclaim.
In 2020, with new label and management in tow, Aeris used lockdown to return to the studio to delve into a new body of work.
Stay tuned for the release of more singles from this guy…until then, have a listen to ‘Pulling Me Closer.’
TISHA MONIQUE treats our ears to a seductively smooth reggae/ Latin treatment of her second single, ‘You’. Originally a R&B/soulful reggae single, which showcases Tisha’s velvety smooth vocals, ‘You -Latin Feel Reggae Remix’ is the second of four singles from Tisha’s upcoming EP.
Speaking of her single, Tisha explains, ‘You’ was written about the love of my life God has blessed me with. It speaks of how that special ‘LOVE’ makes me feel. Especially when experienced from a spiritual perspective”.
Tisha Monique was a member of the UK girl group THE411, back in 2002, signed to SONY music. Their first single, ‘On My Knees’, which featured Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan, was a huge hit in the UK reaching #4 in the UK charts. Their follow-up single ‘Dumb’, reached #3 and both singles charted in the top 40 (World Charts).
Born in Jamaica but having grown up in the UK, Tisha has now ventured out as an independent artist who dabbles in R&B, reggae, soul, soulful hip-hop and pop – all topped off with the smoothest of vocals that take us down memory lane, right back to the early nineties.
Have a listen to ‘You – Latin Feel Reggae Remix’ below out today (22nd February)…
Nigerian-British artist SHÀE UNIVERSE‘s exhilarating single ‘Pushin’, is a unique synergy of R&B and Drill, where Shae’s silky vocals blends in with delicate riffs, simmering 808’s and soaring synth patterns.
Speaking on the single, Shaé said: “Pushin’ was written with ease. It flowed so naturally because it was a subconscious premonition of certain relationships that would come to an end in my life. I didn’t know it at the time I wrote the song but soon enough I saw the coherence manifest in my life. Cheers to honouring your boundaries and dropping dead weight!”
Since bursting onto the scene in 2017, Shaé has made waves in the UK, West Africa and beyond, attracting heat from the likes of Wonderland, TRENCH, NOTION, New Wave Mag and more. Shaé makes music that engages, enchants and inspires. Shaé is an artist who can both sing and rap, has been co-signed by the likes of Kojey Radical, Ms Banks and Etta Bond, and has remained entirely independent – navigating the industry on her own terms.
Stay tuned for more this year from this blossoming R&B talent…but for now, have a listen to ‘Pushin’ below…
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