With radio and editorial support from the likes of Jamz Supernova of BBC 1Xtra acclaim, US publication Ones To Watch, NTS, Dummy, KissFM, Wordplay Magazine and Wonderland, it is clear that the eyes and ears of the music industry are firmly on the nascent R&B superstar JOHN ALONE . After over a year of teasing and speculation, the trailblazing alternative artist has finally released his latest full length effort, ‘No one is coming to save you’.
The 18-track collection goes on the journey of love and isolation, loss and salvation, while proudly answers the cry for uniqueness and individuality in a sea of ever evolving musical norms that will be appeal to fans of Frank Ocean and The Weeknd.
‘No one is coming to save you’ is as multi-layered and unfiltered as the artist himself. John has left no stone unturned, no feeling unexplored and no theme undiscussed, choosing to bare it all for his growing fanbase. Why not check it out below…
Must Listens: go2hell, indira, PLACE, faawud, Lord’s Prayer,what a life
After his recent appearance on the blog with video for track, ‘Day Ones’ Canadian rap veteran ARLO MAVERICK unleashes his second solo album, ‘Blue Collar’. The collection draws on personal experiences to give a compelling account of the grind and hurdles of a blue-collar worker.
Much of the themes on ‘Blue Collar’ revolve around a universal pursuit of purpose, prosperity, and happiness, from the disillusionment of the job market after graduating from college to the gratification of indulging in material things to being undervalued at a 9 to 5. It’s an album that tries to capture the seemingly endless balancing act to meet our personal needs, satisfy our wants, and get ahead in an economic environment that makes it harder and harder to do so.
“This album comes from a personal place, but the overall message of hard-work, self-determination, and perseverance is a universal one,” said Arlo Maverick. “I hope this record resonates with blue-collar workers in Alberta, and across the country – people who are working hard, trying to keep their head above water and make their dreams a reality no matter how out of reach they may seem.”
On ‘Night Shift,’ the album’s centrepiece, Maverick ponders the tension between balancing making ends meet and material success, and the overwhelming sacrifices made to reap the rewards. In sharing his story of real-life hurdles, he offers an empowering anthem to the bleary-eyed workers of the world navigating similar experiences.
Elsewhere, the experienced rhymer takes his sound into bold new directions, experimenting with UK drill (‘Retail Therapy’), and flexing his vocals on the soulful trap number (‘Day Ones’), all while keeping true to his appetite for old-school hip-hop flavours and gospel (‘Losing My Religion’).
Maverick holds nothing back on tracks like ‘On Me,’ about taking accountability to build a legacy, and the album closer, ‘Nothing of Value,’ which details the effects of an abusive shop floor supervisor and a worker’s eventual breaking point: “Walk away from everything/You’ll be lucky if I leave a note.” It’s an explosive finale that speaks to self-determination in the workforce, and the ability to take back control of one’s own fate.
Having spent the entirety of his solo career delivering scathing social critiques, with ‘Blue Collar’ he continues to spark conversations about the frustrations of work life and professional ambitions. An instantly relatable collection of songs, ‘Blue Collar’ positions the rapper as a powerful voice for the working-class.
Check out the powerful album below…
Must Listens: On Me, Night Shift, Late Nights, Father, Nothing Of Value
Nigerian neo-soul & R&B singer AYLØ delivers a brand new 4-track EP titled ‘Moneybag’.
The 29-year-old singer keeps delivering his chill and sexy production and signature sound. Having released a studio album in 2022 and featured on the iconic COLORS Show in the same year, AYLØ keeps delivering new music to leave a mark in 2023 as well. Why not check out the EP below…
With sold-out gigs, music video directing credits, a performance at All Points East, and an Amazon Prime documentary under her belt, Northamptonshire singer-songwriter MEGZZ topped off a stellar year with her EP ‘Through the Motions’.
Blending her own mix of R&B, neo-soul, and pop, Megzz has taken 2023 by the horns by releasing two singles off her upcoming EP after featuring as one of the subjects of the Amazon Prime documentary ‘Unsigned’ (following the journeys of AMEX’s unsigned artists) at the end of 2022. Believing music is a powerful therapy to herself & others, Megzz’s lyricism focuses on empowerment, self-love and transparency around mental health struggles.
“The EP is an unapologetically honest and personal body of work that explores themes of consent, boundaries and self-love, grief, mental health struggles, and most importantly – recovery”, Meggz said. “Though it explores difficult topics, Through The Motions remains empowering and inspiring; encouraging others to find strength in expressing their feelings and owning their own story.”
Through the Motions will feature two brand new tracks, including ‘Motions’, a song that Megzz has held close to her heart for years. Written in 2019 as a personal mantra before becoming lyrics, ‘Motions’ is described by Megzz as “the sunset on the bad days, and the sunrise on the good days”. Rather than being written reflectively, ‘Motions’ is about the present “going through” of mental health struggles and dealing with how “horrible, uncomfortable feelings come in waves, and it’s all about riding out those waves”. Waves and the sound of water are an integral part of Through the Motions, as the EP is all about going through the motions, allowing feelings, and taking power in the process.
Through The Motions is accompanied by the release of short documentary style video, documenting Megzz’s journey of creating the EP whilst battling with her own mental health struggles. EP Through the Motions will is out now via various music platforms. Check it out below…
Hailing from New York City, JOVIAN‘s new debut album, ‘JOVIAN 2000 AD’, was inspired by his fascination with 70s and 80s sci-fi films. “I thought about how that alternate future would have sounded and created this body of work with that in mind!” He explains.
The ten-track throwback-futuristic album was first introduced to music lovers around the world with the single, I’m Ready’. The breathtakingly beautiful song was written by Jovian and Kay’vion and produced by Jovian and Blood Cultures.
It was then followed by the infectious “LASER DISCS.” “Laser Discs,” was the perfect alignment as the song came to be exactly when I had decided I wanted my album to be half R&B/80s Synth and half Hip-Hop,” mentions Jovian. “Overall it’s about begging for someone to see your perspective despite them being unwilling to, or maybe incapable of doing so! Despite that, the memories that were shared are still something to hold dear,” he adds.
However, it was the eighth offering ‘Oceans’ that sealed the direction of the album: “Oceans, was the first song I happened to write for the album once I discovered the direction I wanted to take my first body of work! It’s about a plea to the moon. Being in love with something you cannot attain, no matter how much you may desire it,” Jovian shares. The song was written by Jovian and produced by YZ,
‘JOVIAN 2000 AD.’ is out now via the December Records/SRG-ILS Group label imprint. Why not check it out below…
Must Listens: Ready, Guava, Oceans, Where’d U Go, Sha’s Outro
New Lease Music 