Tag: news

A Quick Chat With…Nia Chennai

I’m absolutely chuffed to have caught up with London’s emerging singer/songwriter NIA CHENNAI, who is – in my opinion – one of most exciting acts to come out of the capital’s alt-R&B scene. She released her debut album EP, ‘Diary Is A Waste of Paper’ last November which stormed straight to #8 on the NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Albums of 2023 list. So sit back and relax and take time out to find more about this very promising songbird and her blazing project…

NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How is 2024 is treating you so far?

NC: Hey, Thanks for having me! 2024 is treating me great. I’ve been loving all the support I’ve been receiving on my EP ‘Diary Is A Waste Of Paper’. I’m super excited to drop some new music this year.

NLM: You released your EP, ‘Diary Is A Waste Of Paper’ back in November 2023. What is the public perception on the project so far?

NC: The feedback has been super sweet on the EP. Everyone has been tagging, listening, and telling me their favourite lines and stories within the project. I think it allowed my fan base to get to know me a little bit more and was a good introduction to me as an artist

NLM: How would you describe the EP’s sound to potential fans?

NC: The EP sound is what I like to call Nia-soul. It’s a mix of soul, neo-soul, r&b! And I’ve got so many influences so you’re just gonna have to take a listen!

NLM: What inspired you to produce the EP?

NC: Making the EP I wasn’t going into the studio, thinking “oh we’re making a project”. I just went into the studio and was making songs that I loved and it came to a point where we were thinking this would be a great time to drop a project.

NLM: What is/are your favourite single(s) from the EP and why?

NC: My favourite songs on the project change all the time, but my current favourite is ‘Call It Quits! That song has attitude, and I love it.

NLM: What message would you like the listeners to take away from your EP?

NC: I would like to take them through a journey of self-discovery, as that’s what I was going through whilst making the project. Hopefully, they can relate to my lyrics and make some better decisions than I did.

NLM: If you had to feature one mainstream artist on the EP, who would it be and why?

NC: I would love to feature Raye, I’ve been obsessed with her 21st-century blues album and I just got it on vinyl. I think she would make a sick feature!


NLM: So what plans do you have for the rest of 2024?

NC: 2024, expect singles singles singles!

NLM: How can potential fans find you?

NC: Everyone can find me @niachennai on all socials!

NLM: Finally, any special shout outs to those involved in the production of ‘Diary Is A Waste of Paper’?

NC: Yes, a massive shout out to my manager who helped me and guided me through it all. I literally couldn’t have done it without him and all the producers that worked on the project. We made magic in the studio!

Listen to ‘Diary Is A Waste Of Paper right HERE

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D’Shaun drops the #4 iTunes charting album ‘CRWN’

Backed by only one single, ‘S’mores & Rumchata’, D’SHAUN comes crash landing at #4 onto the iTunes top 40 Hip-Hop album chart and right back into your music libraries with CRWN.

The highly anticipated project lived up to expectations on the first day of its release as it also entered yet another chart on iTunes. CRWN peaked at #88 on the top 100 albums in all genres chart, sitting comfortably and confidently above Elton John’s Diamonds. This incredible accomplishment doesn’t happen without D’Shaun and the RYLTY crew’s hard work and dedication to creating an album packed with 12 playable and enjoyable records that each bring a different sound and vibe when stimulating your brain.

D’Shaun continues to put Converse, Texas, on the map as he showcases not only his talent but the talents found within his circle. From Austria to Detroit to Houston, he credits the artists around him for helping provide the “spacey yet quintessential Hip-Hop but with a new school sort of feel” sound that he believes his latest body of work entails. This album not only incorporates Hip-Hop but it also throws some dashes of rap, pop and R&B, adding some more seasoning to the recipe we already knew D’Shaun brought to the table. He’s dabbled in those genres before but with CRWN he brings them altogether in a cohesive manner, letting each live and grow with one another as they flow beautifully the more and more you run the project back. For him, CRWN is set to “change the whole landscape, the city and the state, the lives of each of these young men in RYLTY”. Those changes begin with track number one titled ‘Nonstop’ which is fitting for the vibes that you continuously find yourself emerged in.

Between track one and twelve you’ll find up tempo hits meant for the radio in ‘Chalice’, ‘Notice’, ‘S’mores & Rumchata’ and ‘Alright’. You’ll also hear the artist slowing things down a bit with ‘4U’, ‘LoveSICK’, ‘Virgo Season Interlude’ and ‘My Way’. Pure raps are expressed within the previously mentioned ‘Nonstop’ along with ‘Gentlemen’s Club’, ‘Sprite Zero’ and ‘Waver’. If there was a sound that D’Shaun didn’t think was fun or didn’t fit the wave he was gearing towards then it simply didn’t make the cut, the artist says that CRWN “is more fun and shows what wearing the crown is like” when comparing the project to its predecessor KNG.

Four years separate both albums and in between those four years we’ve heard how highly D’Shaun has spoken about the trio of albums he had been planning on releasing with all being companions to one another. With two down and one to go the one man band artist has been growing and maturing within his sound and will only continue to do so. He showcases that behind each verse, chorus, ad-lib, snare, kick or high hat he decides to incorporate into this world where creativity never ends. We can call this world “RYL” and here we’ll find the king at his throne wearing a crown meant for only him, exuding royalty the only way he knows how.

Have a listen to D’Shaun’s chart-topping album below…

Must Listens: Nonstop, 4U, Notice, S’mores & Rumchata, Gentlemen’s Club, Sprite Zero

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Song of the Day: Love Like This – Jessica Wilde x Josh Barry

Highly acclaimed singer, songwriter, rapper, producer and South London native JESSICA WILDE kicks of her 2024 by joining forces with the incredible Josh Barry for a soulful release, ‘Love Like This’.

Packed with soaring emotions and infused with smoky orchestral atmospheres, ‘Love Like This’ is a striking nu-soul gem which will be released on Wilde’s forthcoming album and follows her recent singles ‘Freak Out’ and ‘Feathers’ ft. Zoe Kypri. The two 2023 singles saw her pick up many spins on BBC Radio 1’s Future Artists with Jack Saunders, BBC Radio 1 Introducing with Jess Iszatt, John Kennedy’s X-Posure Daily on Radio X, playlist support across the board from Spotify, Apple, Youtube and Tidal amongst other acclaim. Josh Barry has also been picking up serious heat, recently featuring with Rudimental and Sigma, collaborating with Nile Rogers and opening for Rag ‘N’ Bone Man on tour. Josh Barry brings a dynamic force to the collab as he embodies the spirit of legendary icons like James Brown and Jimi Hendrix.

Following the release of ‘Love Like This’, Wilde and Barry have begun to unveil a 4-part Instagram & TikTok reel series, released every Monday, beginning 19th February. Tune in to see the pair explore the new track’s steamy and romantic themes in more depth through nostalgic aesthetics.

On the series, Wilde explains further- “With the ‘Love Like at his visuals…Myself and Josh wanted to lure people into our world of romance and desire, create a love story through visuals and sounds that feel very now but also have a nostalgic essence, emulating tones of Marvin Gaye ‘Sexual Healing’ with teasing visuals that call in feels of classic film scenes like ‘Grease’, the finale, when Sandy turns into a baddd b and John Travolter is completely hooked! We wanted to capture that slightly tongue in cheek playful edge but still keep it alluring, grown and sexy af!”.

2024 looks set to be an exciting new year for Wilde. With her album on the horizon, she has been gaining growing support from not only BBC Radio 1 but also 6 Music, BBC Radio London, KISS, editorial playlist support across DSPs, as well as features in CLASH, Complex, Wonderland, The Independent and many more. Listen to ‘Love Like This’ below…

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Song of the Day: Gucci – Sneakbo (ft. Lyco, Ivorian Doll & 2Face)

South London’s SNEAKBO teams up with Lyco, Ivorian Doll and Two Face for their latest collaborative single ‘Gucci’.

A completely organic track that happened naturally when the artists were together in Birmingham where Sneakbo linked up with Lyco and Ivorian Doll for the first time. The chemistry was so special, they decided to lay down a demo and this was the end result recorded on the first go. Two Face was in the same building and dropped into the session and ended up recording the last verse.

Lyco kicks the track off with a melodic hook, whilst Sneakbo takes the lead verse bringing his wavy vibes and lyrics to the track. Ivorian Doll steps in after Sneakbo showcasing her lyrical flow and singing skills and Two Face brings the greasy drill bars for a rap track with a hint of Afrobeats.

The video matches the artists lyrics showing the high life with a private jet, designer clothes and private limos.

Gucci is out now across various music platforms. Check out the track and visuals below…

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Song of the Day: Girlfriend (London Girls Mix) – Äyanna

East London’s singer and songwriter ÄYANNA (pictured left) makes a bold return to her hit 2023 single ‘Girlfriend’ and enlists some of London’s finest ladies Mnelia (pictured right) and Tamera for a fresh new remix. The London Girls Mix sees the girls exchange lyrics and soaring vocals, riffing back and forth between each other about love and crushing. This latest release comes off the back of the In A Perfect World (Complete Set) that was released at the end of January, including all live and acapella versions and full visuals.

Speaking on the single, she shares: “Working with Tamera and Mnelia for the Girlfriend remix felt like such a no-brainer, because they are two ultra talented rnb artists in the uk who are fellow lover girls like myself. Our chemistry was perfect and the energy flowed in the studio. They both brought a different energy to the song which you can hear when you listen. I love how they added their own essence to the track whilst continuing the energy of vulnerability that the original version had.”

This remix follows Äyanna’s ground-breaking debut In A Perfect World EP released in Autumn 2023 via LVRN. The striking body of work arrived amidst a slew of early co-signs for the young artist from celebrated artists such Stormzy, Summer Walker, SPINALL to name a few. The towering body of work centred around her signature mosaic of pop, infused with R&B, soul and beyond quickly earned her large acclaim and established her own uncharted lane in music with support from Complex, The Independent, Crack, The Line of Best Fit, Teen Vogue, +44 Amazon, Spotify RADAR UK and more.

Äyanna first captured the attention of the internet and industry tastemakers, through her now viral home videos that showcased her vocal prowess. She now joins the ranks of celebrated LVRN artists such as 6LACK, Summer Walker, DVSN, Davido, SPINALL, Baby Tate and more. With the support of the groundbreaking label and collective, it’s undeniable that Äyanna will establish herself even further as a force in music and beyond. Why not check out ‘Girlfriend (London Girls Mix) below…

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