Taken from their debut mini-album ‘Yes, offence,’ slated for release in April 2022, South London duo SHELF LIVES‘ single ‘Mark Twain’ boasts two-and-a-half minute of flailing electronic breakbeats, glitched-out synths and churning distorted guitars – a prime example of the band’s post-punk/trash-pop amalgam.
Speaking on the new single, Shelf Lives singer Sabrina said: “We’re in an age of self-expression which comes hand-in-hand with opinion. We’re being told by each other who we can and can’t be, what we can and can’t feel and how to express it. Mark Twain is a, sort of, commentary on the confusion and complexity this behaviour creates of something meant to be genuine and authentic. It becomes safer to be emotionless, or at least perceived as, but as we waste these moments of vulnerability and expression a resentment and sadness build. This inevitably leads to the disassociation with these “new norms” and potentially social isolation.”
Originating from Toronto, Canada and Northampton respectively, Shelf Lives consist of singer Sabrina and guitarist/producer Jonny – who now both reside in Streatham Hill, South London. Bringing to mind the acerbic art-rock of Le Tigre, the intensity of The Prodigy, and the gritty garage-rock inspired electro bombast of Peaches, the band’s debut mini-album is sure to enthral en masse upon its release next year.
Check out the video for the single, directed by Florence Poppy Deary and Francesca Van Haverbeke (aka FLAN).
UK Rap royalty SB joins forces with fellow female rising star Lavida Loca for hot new collaboration ‘New New’.
Showcasing her effortless flow and cadence, it’s evident more and more with each release that SB is undoubtedly one to watch when it comes to the UK’s flourishing Rap roster.
Lacing a .Nathan. produced instrumental with real, raw and raucous energy, the pair each spit no-nonsense bars with impressive delivery.
Born and raised in Tottenham, North London of Jamaican heritage, emerging UK Rap artist SB has been making noise amongst a thriving female Rap scene since late 2020.
As a woman raised in the streets, having overcome an amalgamation of trials and tribulations, SB was compelled to share her experiences through music, empowering and enlightening both her male and female counterparts with her endearing truth.
Her raw and unfiltered art for storytelling is what sparked SB’s initial buzz, and is what continues to keep her name firmly on the lips of many real Rap fans in the UK.
In a short time, SB has impressively racked up a string of national radio play, features and articles from the UK’s leading music platforms, and co-signs from some of the industry’s most notable artists and tastemakers.
Receiving support from Spin Millz on Reprezent and Kalex Willzy on This Is Westside, Direction Recordingz and London’s upcoming artist, ASHTON RUSSELL release the brand new single ‘Might Aswell’.
Accompanied by cinematic visuals directed by Ashton himself and Sponge, the radio-ready anthem sees Ashton delivering melodic vocals amongst bars that echo the sentiment of living a ‘YOLO’ lifestyle at life’s crossroads.
With his ability to create a genre-fluid sound, Ashton endeavours to become a household name with this impressive new single. The piano-laced production on this record comes from Power and Zay.
Following the release of his last single, the soulful and aspirational ‘Up & Up (Heavens Above)’, which was supported by the likes of Capital Xtra, KISS FM, Amazing Radio, No Signal, Wordplay Magazine and GUAP Magazine, among others, British rap artist and producer AKS aka the “three letter man” is back with an introspective and deeply personal new single titled ‘PARITY’, as he continues to tease towards his long-awaited third EP As Plane As Day: Departures & Arrivals, which will conclude the South London wordsmith’s long-running ‘Modes of Transport’ EP series.
Produced by AKS himself, under the veiled moniker #3Letters, with live instrumentation from guitarist Adrian Remedy (Ed Sheeran), bass player Benjamin Muralt (Ledisi, Ill Camille, Pixie Lott) and keyboardist Charlie Stacey (Yussef Dayes), ‘Parity’ is a rich and textured rap track, layered with lush synth keys, glorious melodies and vibrant guitar licks, over which AKS wears his heart on his sleeves in truly captivating fashion. Switching up his rap flow into a bouncy melodic quickfire rhyme iteration that captures your attention, AKS speaks honestly to the pressures and aspirations of a black father.
Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘Parity’, AKS says, “The song is about purpose really. The notion that we do the best we can for our kids so that their starting point in life is beyond where ours was. I’m sure that was also our parent’s aim, and in that from generation to generation, there’s a sense of commonality in that. Parity. I wanted to explore generational differences – both the things that separate us from the generations that came before us, and those points of commonality that unite us. Like, wanting the best for your kids is universal right?”
Unpacking the record further, AKS adds that ‘Parity’ was “born out of conversations I was having with other parents about the hopes and dreams that they had for their kids and the struggles they had with their own parents. More and more, I realised that many of the choices that we’re making as parents are the same choices that our own parents were faced with, and try as we might to step with our best foot forward and usher in a world that we’d be happy for our children to inherit, some of those aspirations don’t come to fruition. We’re all learning on the job. Still, we pour out our best for them”.
Heralded as one of the finest lyricists in the UK by the likes of Hypebeast and Okayplayer, with co-signs from Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Jay-Z collaborator Young Guru, AKS has always had a real sense of palpable excitement around his music from fans and critics alike. While his last EP Train Of Thought earned him two nominations at the inaugural Unsigned Music Awards, and his last single ‘Up & Up’ was championed by DJ Semtex at Capital Xtra and KISS FM’s Ellie Prohan, the South London native is excited for what’s to come as he gears up to close out his ‘Mode Of Transport’ series in 2022.
North West London’s singer/songwriter, ZANEITA (pronounced zen knee tah) unleashes her brand new single, ‘Quarter Life Crisis’ alongside the visuals directed by David Monie and Joe MK.
The Afro-R&B track produced by Beatzbydb provides a soulful and warm atmosphere in which Zaneita relays her honest experience of coping with life’s anxieties and seeking to find clarity on the direction of her life course.
With this her third release of 2021, ‘Quarter Life Crisis’ sees Zaneita deliver an impactful and heartfelt vocal performance. In addition to her mellifluous singing, ‘Zee’ raps a short punchy verse which emits a feeling of strength to listeners that can relate to her story.
With the official music video to Quarter Life Crisis now available, Zaneita also shared with fans the BTS video shedding light on the hard work of the team behind the final moving art piece which can be found on her YouTube channel.
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