‘Tried’ is ASHLEIGH BANKX‘s first single release of 2022, which captures the essence of UK Afro-Swing. The single shows the zimbabwean native’s bold lyricism and instrumentation to tell a bittersweet story of love and romance, while showcasing her rich vocal and candid lyricism. Ashleigh’s music has been likened to Amy Winehouse, Rihanna, Beyonce and Etta James.
Her songwriting abilities and vocal tonality distinguish her as an authentic performer with a story to share with the world. She has previously been supported by the likes of GRM Daily, Grunge Cake, Trench, Wordplay Mag, GRM Daily and Creative Gen.
Already being supported by DJ Target at BBC 1Xtra and featuring sun-dappled chords and a soft bassline, ‘All Night’ is a dream of a record that flows through a contemporary pop and R&B space. Crafted perfectly with soulful instrumentation and an exceptional vocal that instantly melts you into the vibe of the track, it is also the coming of TREVIS.
Caressing the track with his soft, caramel tones that waver with soul as he lays down his vocals across the record, Trevis remains the star throughout, ensuring each lyric is perfectly placed with clarity and delivery. Detailing a night driving around the city after meeting a girl, the track captures the feeling of being in the moment and the burning, lustful desire of being with someone new.
Born and raised in Norway, Trevis found a place to call home in the musical melting pot of California, where he found his way to the studios of super-producer Harmony Samuels and the BOE Camp. Responsible for hits with Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, Chip, Ciara, Chris Brown and many more, Trevis would sit at the back of Harmony’s studio sessions, listening and watching top-tier musicians in their space and dissecting the formula of how to bring the best out in that creative moment. Inspired and educated, Trevis found that creating his own music became his therapy and a healthy outlet to express himself.
Speaking on the single, Trevis says: “All Night is the first song I did with my UK brothers Sons Of Sonix, a collab with them was way overdue. The same night we made it, we posted a snippet of it on IG, and it immediately sparked something. The whole flow of it just felt right. We were getting mad love online, from UK icon Wretch 32 to one of my favourite Nigerian artists Oxlade.”
Check out the visualiser for Trevis’ ‘All Night’ below…
Launching himself into the scene as a solo artist, dropping vibey and left of field bangers, CAVIAR GABE is making it clear from the offset he’s not playing around this year with single ‘Feelings’.
Originally from London but being raised in South Africa, Caviar Gabe’s unique upbringing provides a catalyst for an even more unique sound. Combining braggadocious and thoughtful bars with ethereal and vibey instrumentation, Gave creates an intoxicating style of floaty UK rap, courtesy of his unique cadence and accent from spending life in both the UK and SA. His trappy and bouncy style is hard to pinpoint, yet reminiscent of his contemporary UK rap peers such as Blaze YL, Knucks and Sam Wise. Gabe’s voice glides across the instrumental in a woozy yet stylistic manner, and harnesses a captivating hook that utilizes his laidback delivery, weaving his way through the pockets in the instrumental. With the subtlety of the arrangement, all working together to enhance his introspective bars.
Growing up in Johannesburg, South Africa, made a huge impact on how Gabe views the world, and in turn, his music. Talking about his experience, he explains: “Growing up, I wasn’t raised by bad parents. They tried to give me everything, but we were tainted, and when everything went south, I tried to find escapes, hustling just to make sure I was treated equally by my peers. I grew up with robbers and killers with hearts of gold, peacekeepers too. Mainly influenced by zulu traditions and cultures, I saw the complete contrast between extreme wealth and extreme poverty, fought for human rights, got shot at by police and had more heartbreaks than you could count.”
Being influenced by musicians such as David Bowie and Mick Jagger on his fathers side, to his mother rooting him in Soul, R&B, Reggae and Dance, Caviar Gabe’s inspirations are an eclectic mix of different cultures. Such inspirations have clearly affected Gabe’s aesthetic, and gives explanation for the importance he places on his visuals and imagery. Gabe’s artsy and edgy style provides the perfect backdrop for his equally edgy music.
With this being Caviar Gabe’s first serious release of the year, with plenty more in the works including a project coming in the summer, “Feelings” acts as a flag in the ground for his intentions in 2021. Check out the official video for Gabe’s single below…
Out now via Canadian indie label and collective Day7 Records, JAZ’S BLUES (SIDE A) is the brand new sophomore album from Toronto hybrid artist, songwriter, and musician JAZ VALENTINO. The 8-track album is the second full-length project in two years from the Grenadian-Serbian native, following last year’s introductory album Day 7, which led to Jaz Valentino reaching the milestone of garnering his first million streams on Spotify alone.
The melodic rap and R&B fusion album Jaz’s Blues (Side A) was preceded by two well-received lead singles that were released to open Jaz Valentino’s 2022 – the Buckroll Beats-produced ‘Snowflakes’, which has garnered over 100,000 plays online, and the recently released introspective offering produced by Arcane Beats titled ‘Wild Weeds’, which is currently being supported by Live Nation’s Ones To Watch, 1883 Magazine, Earmilk and Word Is Bond Magazine, among others.
Jaz’s Blues (Side A) opens with ‘Farmers Land’, a tribute to Jaz Valentino’s father, who passed away from liver cancer when Jaz was only 13, before digging deeper into his trust issues on ‘Eunoia’, addressing his friendships on songs like ‘King City’ and ‘Like Minds’, refocusing on his faith on ‘Blue F’, and closing out the album with ‘Life Waters’, which is about starting over with a clean slate, and features Jaz’s grandmother, who practically raised him.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the album, Jaz Valentino says, “‘Jaz’s Blues (Side A)’ is me baring my soul in the music about the last three years of my life and what I’ve been going through. Flowers come out of the growth process, but no one talks about the pain the bud or seedling go through in the process, and this is what the album represents. I wrote these songs through the pandemic, through finding my feet in the music industry, through countless rejections and breakups.“
Born and raised in Canada, Jaz Valentino’s music blurs the line between the classic warm tones of R&B and the dynamism of modern hip-hop, while still leaning on his special connection with R&B and rap music. Notable for his evocative sounds, lush melodies, layered texture, captivating hook and introspective lyrics, Jaz Valentino has long been able to connect with listeners on a deeper level, using his ‘less is more’ philosophy to make sure his mixes are not overly crowded, and his songs feel spacious and lush, with plenty of room for his songwriting to stick out.
Now it’s time for you to check out the official video for Jaz’s ‘Life Waters’ below…
Responding to feelings of social isolation and the double-edged sword of digital connectivity, ‘Never Felt So Alone’ is the third single from CAPTIONS OF IMAGINATION‘s full EP Fingerprint.
Straight outta Geneva, Switzerland – who are often compared to a modern incarnation of the Fugees or the Black Eyed Peas – this trio combines rapping, singing, and musicianship with both distinctive lyrical content and their own vibe.
Taking a step in the direction of combating taboos around mental health, vocalists Imagine, Dr Koul and Evita Koné lead by example by sharing their angst instead of bottling it up. French beatmaker Josra constructs a sonic atmosphere built around vibrating basslines and strident synthesizers, backed by British violinist Julian Azkoul’s urgent bow strokes.
Musically, the song goes beyond its subject matter, as ‘Never Felt So Alone’ is as catchy and danceable as its music video is stylish and entertaining. Check it out below…
New Lease Music 