Tag: new music

Grete shares her beautifully raw EP, ‘Grey’

Lithuania-born, Manchester-based artist GRETE has perfected her own brand of alt-pop – culminating in the fresh, unique and exciting 5 track EP that is ‘Grey’.

While the EP successfully executes a huge variety of musical styles and each song is entirely distinct and standalone, there are several themes that span across the tracklist, tying ‘Grey’ together and turning it into a cohesive, emotionally vulnerable story. Each song focuses on a different low point in Grete’s
past, conveyed through cuttingly honest lyrics and reinforced by moody, mesmerising and sometimes even manic instrumentation.

Grete’s debut single, ‘With u’ is a hybrid of many different popular styles including RnB, jazz and pop, akin to influences such as Yebba and Maro. The live instrumentation invokes a warm, emotional sensation and the dynamic vocals encapsulate the intended emotion perfectly. ‘With u’ is a heartfelt ballad in which Grete is comparing her current life to a previous time.

Second single, ‘How Long’ progresses into a darker, more twisted space. This is brought to life by dissonant chords, biting and distorted guitar leads and Grete’s soaring vocals. The track is punctuated with glitchy details and electronic sparkles, complimenting the instruments and contributing to the cosmic scale of the song.

Grete’s latest single, Cz u don’t’ is a forward thinking, experimental yet vulnerable track influenced by artists like Halsey and Hiatus Kaiyote. The song winds through various sections with a beat in 7 as the backdrop, culminating in a whole-band-polyrhythm to end. The protagonist of ‘Cz u don’t’ is searching for reasons to leave an unhealthy relationship.

Grete started singing when she was only three years old, beginning her performance career in small ensembles and bands. She was quickly spotted and invited to the biggest stages in the country, such as nationally broadcasted competitions, top level musical theatre productions, international concerts and contests, even reaching the finals of ‘The Voice’ Lithuania 2018. Gaining local fame opened many doors for function gigs and session work but that was not the career she truly wanted to pursue.

Grete chose to leave Lithuania and start fresh in the UK. Now she is studying pop music vocals in RNCM. Influenced by artists like Jazmine Sullivan, The Weeknd and Yebba, she began writing vocally colourful and harmonically intricate songs with strong messages and old R&B references.

Why not have a listen to Grete’s stunning EP below…

Must Listens: How Long, With u, colder Summer

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OUT TODAY: Katrin-Merili puts her blend of Nordic Nu-Soul on the map with ‘Hold My Body’.

Paris-based, Estonian soul artist KATRIN-MERILI announces her debut EP ‘Beautiful Things’ with her new single ‘Hold My Body’, which is out today (20th June). She captures the soulful energy of Yebba, Sade and Cleo Sol, weaving her vocal around a future-facing instrumental to create a distinctive brand of Nordic neo-soul.

‘Hold My Body’ reflects on a long distance relationship, and the power of love to surpass geographical boundaries. Katrin explores the sacrifices that are made when in love, and the hunger for connection and patience needed to see things through. Alt-RnB lyrical flows are balanced with bopping grooves, euphoric synths and a gospel-inflected harmonic flavour, capturing the butterflies in the stomach and thrill of falling in love. Katrin shares: “I started composing this song on a friend’s guitar that was left in my apartment. The chords stuck with me, and gave it so much warmth when I produced the first draft. It took on a life of its own when I played it with my live band, and became the song you can hear today.”

Slated for release in 30th August, ‘Beautiful Things’ is a project consisting of five intimate stories centred around femininity, identity, and mental health, touching upon Katrin’s experience of being split between two countries, and supporting her mother through her battle with breast cancer. Due to the deeply personal subject material, Katrin wanted to be as involved as possible across the project, creating her own visual world to accompany the music, she shares: “I decided to self-produce the EP independently to be able to follow through with my original vision and to make something really personal. I am fully present in all the aspects of the creation, from writing the lyrics to styling, MUA, self-portraits, artworks and collages. Every song is a personal piece of my life and an invite to join me on my journey of self-discovery.”

A rising name in the Parisian soul-jazz crossover scene, Katrin has spent the last eight years in the French capital collaborating and building a name for herself, supporting the likes of Roy Ayres at the revered New Morning jazz club. Her path in Paris led to her meeting co-producer Sacha Arnaud, who was able to help Katrin bring her musical vision to life alongside the vibrant presence of talented French musicians including Noé Berne (Nine Sparks Riot) and Remi Klein (Voyou).

Taken from the ‘Beautiful Things’ EP, set for release on Friday 30th August, ‘Hold My Body’ was
released today (20th June) across various music platforms. Why not have a listen below…

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Song of the Day: Leave The World Behind – Shyam P & Moon Rocket

Renowned house vocalist, songwriter, and producer SHYAM P, celebrated for his collaborations with industry giants like Ferreck Dawn, Second City, and Josh Butler, has joined forces with legendary Afro House producer, DJ, and piano virtuoso MOON ROCKET, who has been delivering his magical live shows at some of the biggest clubs in New York, Miami and across Italy.

Together, they present a groundbreaking electronic album that transcends boundaries and defines a new era in electronic music. Titled ‘More Than Art and Science,’ the album is a testament to the collective talent and sonic breadth of these two exceptional artists. Both artists have accrued over 25 million streams on Spotify alone, and Shyam P’s distinctive vocals, effortless songwriting, and soulful performances have earned him support from Radio 1, CamelPhat, and Annie Mac. Meanwhile, Moon Rocket’s unparalleled piano playing and production skills have solidified his status as a legend in the Afro House scene.

The album’s second single, ‘Leave The World Behind, emerges as an instant standout, epitomising the perfect fusion of elements that define a cross-genre, radio-friendly dance anthem. This track effortlessly intertwines emotion-drenched vocals with a buoyant, uptempo production, encapsulating the essence of a chart-topping hit.

With its infectious chorus, “All I do is close my eyes and leave the world behind me,” the song not only captivates with its catchiness but also resonates deeply. In today’s whirlwind of existence, the track embarks listeners on a transformative odyssey of introspection, underscoring the significance of gratitude, liberation, and authenticity.

Radiating a feel-good vibe and pulsating tempo, ‘Leave the World Behind’ embodies the essence of summer, serving as the quintessential soundtrack for carefree moments and sun-kissed dance floors. The vocals, brimming with passion, seamlessly harmonise with the production, immediately uplifts spirits and strikes a chord with listeners.

Why not listen below…

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Indie-pop group Thyra shares care-free album, ‘SENTIMENTAL’.

Consisting of Thyra Hilden (lead vocals and lyricist), Lucas Caddeo (Bass and production), Martin Drago (Guitar), and Bernado Batalla (Drums), THYRA continues their creation of dreamy pop from EP, ‘Lucid Dreampop’ (which claimed the #2 spot on New Lease Music’s Top Ten Albums of 2023) with latest body of work SENTIMENTAL. The similarity between the two albums ends with what the band calls ‘Existential pop’, as SENTIMENTAL possesses lighter and carefree feel to the downtempo genre, designed to take us on a rollercoaster of emotions.

The band is fronted by Visual artist Thyra Hilden, educated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Denmark, has previously been interviewed by the BBC, CNN, AP, Reuters, Euronews and others for her spectacular visual art. Despite a strong career in visual arts, she turned to music in 2021. Now, just a few years later, she debuted as a musician she has already landed two singles on NEW MUSIC FRIDAY as well as performing with her own dream pop band THYRA.

Speaking of the latest album 51 year old Thyra says, “Lyrics and energy on this album SENTIMENTAL are full of melancholic teen spirit. Danish focus track ALT OG MER is about difficulties to choose direction in life, no matter your age. My album is a tribute to all who wish to stay young by mind”

SENTIMENTAL is now available for you pleasure across various music platforms. Have a listen below…

Must Listens: ALT OG MER, TRIPPY, SWEETEST LIE

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Jessica Wilde shares new single, ‘Here Right Now’

Like she just swallowed whole the book of Eckhart Tolle’s ‘Power Of Now’, an influential work cited often by Madonna and Kendrick Lamar, and then went on a trip on P-Funk’s Mothership with Prince and Bootsy Collins strapped in for the ride; highly acclaimed and much-loved singer, songwriter, rapper, producer and South London native JESSICA WILDE is back with a thought-provoking new single ‘Here Right Now’, as she turns up the heat for her highly anticipated new album project dropping this summer, which has already gained heavy support from BBC R1 taste makers Jack Saunders and Jess Iszatt who said ‘We get excited every time we get a new track in our inbox from Jessica Wilde’.

“‘Here Right Now’ is a song for the times, in an age of everyone glued to their screens, missing the beauty of life all around, this is an anthem to wake and shake us up, to bring us back to the now!” exclaims Jessica Wilde.

Inspired by a tube ride where Wilde tried to catch eyes with a cute guy across the carriage but noticed how, “he’s too busy looking at devices, missed my eyes when they were telling him they liked him”, to then provoking her to write on the current state of the world, greedy politicians who have lost touch with reality, consumerism and a hustle mentality that has us chasing material gains, only to feed the ego and leave the soul empty, whilst we miss the true joys of life that only exist in the present moment.

The track follows her recent singles ‘FADE’ co-wrote with multi-platinum selling writer James Newman, who wrote Rudimental’s Brit award winning song ‘Waiting All Night’ with Ella Eyre, ’Freak Out’, ‘Feathers’ with Zoe Kypri and ‘Love Like This’ with Josh Barry, also from the forthcoming new album. The previous singles stirred up some serious heat, with multiple spins on BBC Radio 1’s ‘Future Artists’, BBC Introducing, plus a recent in studio interview and live performance on BBC Radio London with Carrie and David Grant, airplay from John Kennedy at Radio X and editorial playlist support across the board from Spotify, Apple, TIDAL, YouTube Music, Pandora plus features in CLASH, Complex, Wonderland, The Independent and more.

Not only will Wilde’s artistry continue to impress music lovers and tastemakers alike, but so will her ‘PxSSY PWR’ platform which she created as a response to the disparity between support for male artists over female. The residency at Hootanany Brixton has become a hub and major platform for some of the most exciting underground female and non-binary artists, including sold out shows with the likes of Etta Bond, IYAMAH, Zoe Kypri and Tamaraebi to name a few.

‘PxSSY PWR’, which is fronted by Wilde’s fierce, unapologetic, comedic, pink wigged and biro smoking alter ego, ‘ya gurl Charlene’, also has its own Radio show, clothing line in collaboration with FAME Magazine and this summer ‘PxSSY PWR’ returns to Secret Garden Party Festival to take-over the Noir Organics stage.

‘Here Right Now’ is out on May 17th through Absolute Label Services.

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