Song of the Day: Stay Focused – BLKGLD

Hailing from Croydon and of Jamaican descent, identical twins Shereen and Sophia aka BLKGLD enchant us with their beautiful and buttery vocals through their debut single, ‘Stay Focused’ out now on all major download/streaming platforms.

The single innately evokes a nostalgic feeling that transports back to the 90s with their effortless fusion of R&B and Dancehall. This irresistible number has slow wine written all over it, and the meandering baseline is mixed in with a tropical xylophone vibe.

With a musical encyclopedia that is rich with the heart and soul of R&B, the girls site Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Destiny’s Child, TLC,  Boyz 2 Men and Usher  amongst some of their biggest inspirations and influences and their sound marries this together with a contemporary twist. Crediting their seasoned soulful voices to their dad who also sang and often was likened to Nat King Cole himself, it’s no coincidence to why BLKGLD are slaying it.

Cementing their rightful place within the UK music scene and beyond, they have already received co-signs from notable names in dancehall, including Beanie Man and The Fanatix. Their soulful renditions of many classic and future hits have already gained some exciting traction, amassing millions of views across all social media platforms, leading to the duo performing alongside Migos and the late Juice Wrld last summer.

Keeping 100% focused, BLKGLD are ones to watch for 2020…check out the video for their debut below…

Song of the Day: Goldress – YellowStraps (ft. YVNK)

Consisting of Rwandan-born brothers Alban and Yvan Murenzi, Brussels-based alternative R&B/ soul duo YELLOWSTRAPS’ latest single ‘Goldress’, embodies an immediately addictive vibe that’s gets a big thumbs up from the likes of Earmilk, Indie Shuffle and Complex.

Operating in a smooth, soulful groove, ‘Goldress’ pushes against the borders of convention both lyrically and sonically while marking a path for a complex of jazzy references to shine through. From the get-go, the single is an ingenious blend of soulful tunes and undeniable technique, held together effortlessly by the charismatic Murenzi brothers.

The video for the track takes place in a cinema, between a young man and a woman in a gold dress. The panning of the camera between the two characters creates complex dynamics from simple actions, while the visuals of the “lady in the gold dress” complement the inherent surrealism, while at the same time adding a literal element to the cinematography.

The track features VYNK who has releases on renowned labels Kitsuné and Majestic Casual and has shared stages with notable acts such as Ghostface Killah and Killah Priest.

Out now via Haliblue Records, ‘Goldress’ is the title track from their upcoming EP ‘Goldress’, slated to drop on 7th February 2020.

Check out the video below…

Song of the Day: Alive – Yung Fume – Alive (ft. Chanal)

U.S loved Londoner YUNG FUME has partnered up with Chanal from much loved girl group M.O’s for single ‘aLive’.

The smooth ambient smash features the unmistakable tones of Yung Fume. His hazed out, emotive delivery topped with auto-tune is met with the sweet harmonies and soothing edge from Chanal as the pair create an honest and captivating drop, based on their own journey of emotion, reminding us that even on the darker days of life, we’re still ‘aLive’ and nobody is on their own.

Having become one of the UK’s frontrunners in conquering the U.S, Yung Fume has built an impressive profile to date. From reaching an exceptional homegrown audience and performing throughout the UK, the rumble of global exposure quickly developed following remixes of his record ‘Watch Me Flex’ by artists like Wizkid & Ty Dollas Sign. Leading to collaborations with top producer Zaytoven as well as Heavyweights Lil Durk & Young Nudy, Yung Fume has built a solid repertoire, releasing two projects this year including ‘Noughts & Crosses 4’, which saw him work with the likes of Young Adz, Lancey Foux, Fee Gonzales & Zinozee, & solo drop ‘The Other Way’.

Exposing true vulnerability and an insight in to the depths of Yung Fume, ‘aLive’ is an impressive version of the young star that both the UK and U.S are continuing to hail up.

Check out the video for the smooth joint below…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Song of the Day: Hectic – Manu Crooks (ft. J Emz)

After racking up close to 500K streams in just over two weeks and support from the likes of Ebro at Beats 1, MANU CROOKS and J Emz drop the latest joint ‘Hectic’

Taking his sound international, Manu Crooks has earned his stripes in the UK and the U.S. He’s previously been highlighted by i-D, The Fader and Pigeons & Planes and had Australian tours with both Stormzy and Tory Lanez. He’s received major support with the likes of Charlie Sloth, DJ Target, Zane Lowe and Ebro. Meanwhile, J Emz and ONE FOUR have been spun into UK headlights throughout 2019 thanks to their live shows with Octavian and cosigns from UK music visionaries Skepta and Dave. Though both artists come from Western Sydney, the collab offers geninuine similarities to the roots and understanding of the UK trap world that it finds inspiration in. The reocrd sees two worlds merge into one: Polynesian crew ONEFOUR’s drill and UK trap inspired style – talking about their real life experiences in highly neglected areas of their neighbourhood, and African-Australian Manu Crooks’ internationally recognised sound and lyrics – swerving genres, styles, and trends and touching on broader aspects of his world and lifestyle.

This collaboration is deeper than the music itself. Bringing the two sub-genres together not only showcases the diversity of the music coming out of Western Sydney, but also the unity amongst the Australian urban scene.

Check out the video for ‘Hectic’ below…

 

 

 

Song of the Day: Big Rich – C Montana (ft. S Loud)

If your ear has been anywhere near the UK rap scene over the last two years, it would’ve been pretty tough to miss the rise and rise of C MONTANA. Cut from the same cloth of all the rap greats, the Londoner has built a profile based on his rags to riches tales and their visual accompaniments documenting his luxurious lifestyle, love of cars, women and jewellery. Now set to take his career to a new level, C Montana teams up with S Loud for the release of his single ‘Big Rich’.

Premiering with the ‘Voice of the Streets’, DJ Kenny Allstar on BBC Radio 1Xtra, the record is his final drop of the year and a big statement to let the world know that 2020 is his. Hitting out punchy verses on the laid-back reminiscent beat, C Montana shows exactly why he’s become one of today’s most certified and engaging rappers in the world of street tales.

Clearly a product of the early 00’s rap generation which was home to the likes of 50 Cent and Rick Ross, there’s something old skool hip-hop to his new skool output. Speaking of inspiring his youngers through both visuals and lyrics, C Montana embodies every inch of what it is to be a superstar rapper and an ever progressive businessman. Every visual and image is doused in the finest drip, the jet-set lifestyle and the racks of money, laid out bare next to the undercurrent of business, hard work, street life and trap houses.

Taking up music as a hobby to document his life, C Montana made his first major entry to the music game just two years ago with his debut studio recorded single ‘Drug Dealer’ featuring AyEm. The record gained 1.5 million YouTube views and subsequently the rapper has released numerous videos seeing his profile and fanbase soar. After a short hiatus and the demand from fans to hear more, C Montana has been unable to ignore the call any longer and jumped back into the booth to release the weighty ‘Big Rich’….check out the video below…