Tag: London

Song of the Day: Ain’t No One – Cilla Raie

Following her last single, ‘Masterpiece’, which racked up over 30,000 plays on SoundCloud, gaining support from MOBO Awards, BBC 1xtra and Link Up TV, CILLA RAIE makes her way to today’s hot spot with her latest single, ‘Ain’t No One’, produced by Joey Dyer (Iggy Azalea – Fancy, Katy B).

Combining her love for R&B and soul music, ‘Ain’t No One’ delivers soft and sultry vocals with heartfelt lyrics, drawing inspirations from the likes of Aaliyah, Mya, Brandy and Toni Braxton.

The North London singer/songwriter began recording music at just 14-years-old, with grime producer DaVinche (Stormzy, Skepta, Wiley) being one of her key mentors during the early stages of her musical journey. Having secured successful sessions and connections with key UK and US producers and writers, this birthed her first self-titled debut EP ‘Cilla Raie’ produced by the likes of Sillky (Mabel, Mahalia, Craig David) and The Arcade (Doja Cat, Khalid, Migos). She later embarked on a national school tour with UK Music and delivering music workshops to students across the UK.

This year will see Cilla releasing a series of singles as well as a body of work due to be released in 2021, which pays homage to R&B and embodying the growing pains of love and life as a young black British woman.

Check out the self-produced video for ‘Ain’t No One’ below…

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EP Review: Away From The City – Melanie Crew & Ross Palmer

MELANIE CREW and ROSS PALMER have been performing together for several years but EP, ‘Away from the City’ is their first release as a duo. The EP features six songs, three by each writer, and was produced at their home in south London, including two songs that were written and recorded during lockdown (‘Nobody’s Watching’ and A ‘Different Place’).

Melanie leads the way on the EP with the purest of vocals, later supported by a male light baritone performance in guitar-led piece, ‘Seven Mountains’, setting the intimate theme of the collection. BBC Essex/Kent-backed artist went on to add a real mystical glow to spellbinding ‘Holborn Hill’ and ‘A different Place’, which boasts warm glow of country/indie folk.

Also beginning with a stripped-back performance with guitar-led, ‘Restless Heart’, Ross then takes the EP on a slight soulful route, giving the acoustic theme a full-body sound in ‘Nobody’s Watching’, where his soothing vocals eases into the arrangements, that somehow has a revival, Dr. Hook twang. Ross – also a BBC Essex and BBC Kent-approved artist – concludes the set with ‘Darkest England’ which carries on that full-bodied sound to the almost stripped performance, which allows his rich storytelling to take centre stage.

Even if you’re not the greatest fan of the folkore, singer/songwriter approach, you will find the ‘Away from the City’ appeasing as the moment you hit play the set, there’s a comforting warmth that immediately releases any weighty troubles away. Hear for yourself; have a listen below…

Must Listen: Holborn Hill, Nobody’s Watching, Darkest England

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Song of the Day: Trapstar II – Kwazi Cort

KWAZI CORT, a rising star in the UK Grime scene, serves a notice to all the non-believers who’ve been too quick to dub the genre as a thing of the past.

Using his single, ‘Trapstar II’ as a means of showcasing his multi-faceted artistry, he quite literally navigates the space between Rap and Grime to craft his own original sound, knotting together the kerrangs of Rock with the soulful harmonies of RnB.

Written as a diary of experiences, ‘Trapstar II’ serves as an ode and love letter to the South London streets which made him. Diving deeper into the complex feelings of negatively affecting your neighbourhood to make a living and fund studio-time, his aspirations are set way beyond any street cred. Kwazi Cort refreshingly vocalizes the challenges he faced as a recovered conscious gangster – sentiments which are not expressed enough in today’s music! Supplying listeners with the highs and lows of being a Trapstar, along with the burdens placed on his relationships, as a consequence of prioritizing the roads; finally giving real meaning to the phrase “married to the streets”.

“It’s kinda mad, I thought everybody went through similar things like me… I was wrong. My South London story morphed friends to foes, cats to catwalks, macs to models” Kwazi continues,“Trapstar II is an autobiography, recording my journey from hustling in the streets to barring in the booth. Grinding in order to better my position due to the lack of opportunities, meanwhile at war with my conscience, aware of the damage it’s causing my loved ones as a result.”

Check out the video for ‘Trapstar II’ below…

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Louise Golbey Shares Sassy Single, ‘Scarlet Woman’

LOUISE GOLBEY does not do things by halves. Her first single from her forthcoming sophomore album ‘Renaissance’ comes straight out of the dirtiest funk and soul school around. Think Prince and D’Angelo on a hot summer’s night and you will begin to get the picture.

This London based artist might not look like she can tear the roof off a sweaty dancehall or jazz club but after touring and collaborating with countless superstars from London and across the Ocean; from Omar and Ed Sheeran to Roy Ayers, Roberta Flack, Eric Benet and En Vogue, Louise has kept them all enamoured, as she does her adoring fans and continues to establish herself as a respected ambassador of the UK’s soul scene. Just before 2020’s lockdown Louise reached one of her live ambitions with her own name on the line up at London’s 02 Arena alongside Level 42, Kool & The Gang and Brand New Heavies and now after some time on her hands to record for the new album she takes things up to another level.

Her brand new single, ‘Scarlet Woman’ harks back to a sassy TLC belter fused with a neo-soul style groove. It packs a sexy punch, but feels incredibly on point, as we strive further forward away from the old macho stereotypes and nearer a destination of R.E.S.P.E.C.T which is still an ongoing quest for all.

Check out the sassy joint below:

 

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Song of the Day: Love Yourself First – Fifi Rong

Tapping into the emotional energy of our current climate, Avant pop singer/songwriter FIFI RONG‘s single, ‘Love Yourself First’ toys with themes of self-doubt and inner-confidence with its moving production and faint, tender lyrics that are sung in both Chinese and English, expressing Fifi’s multicultural heritage.

“This song acts as a reminder to the indestructible truth we all know deep down, but often neglect in these uncertain times of the world,” Fifi says about the single.

Self-produced, written and recorded by Fifi herself, ‘Love Yourself First’ — along with previous singles — ‘Distance’ and ‘Love Is A Lonely Thing’, will feature on forthcoming LP There’s A Funeral In My Heart For Every Man I Loved, a record that further looks to explore the deeper tropes of the human condition through a collection of unrequited love stories.

Have a listen to ‘Love Yourself First’ below…

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