New Track: Over – Sleeplust

Since claiming the limelight on NEW LEASE MUSIC with single ‘My Place’ last February, there’s been a reshuffle in the SLEEPLUST lineup, with two new members (vocalist Amber Ruthe – replacing Meghan Tartamella – and drummer Sarah Luffred) joining twin brothers guitarist Michael Pepe and bassist Joseph Pepe.

With the big change comes an even more honest approach to their songwriting with highly emotive arrangements of floating electro pop/rock soundscapes through their latest offering ‘Over’. Released last Monday, the almost four-minute single gives an account of one refusing to end a relationship and the burning desire to keep it alive.

To date, SLEEPLUST has released two EPs, their debut Self-Titled EP and its follow-up remix EP simply titled Remixes. Together, those EPs have accumulated over one million plays across digital streaming services, and tracks from both have also been placed on television shows such as The Real World, Bad Girls Club and Total Bellas.

Their new single is the beginning of the band’s next chapter as they prepare their forthcoming album for Summer 2017.

Have a listen to ‘Over’.

EXCLUSIVE: watch Sophie Longshaw’s brand new video to single, Hold You

Exactly a week after releasing single, ‘Hold You’, SOPHIE LONGSHAW unveiled the visual to her latest emotive release.

Shot by Andy Turner, who was one of the creators/directors of Muse’s ‘Sing For Absolution’ video, the four-minute simplistic yet compelling production, features the Twin Records recruit in the recording studio, showcasing her stunningly soulful vocals in the acoustic guitar-driven arrangements.

‘Hold You’ is the follow-up to a series up heart-tugging singles, including ‘In The Morning’, ranked #8 on NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Songs of 2016 list.

Time for you to check out the video to Sophie’s latest offering…and remember, you saw it first on NEW LEASE MUSIC.

New Track: Louis Baker – Gave It All Away

LOUIS BAKER shares new single ‘Gave It All Away’, which follows two breathtaking songs ‘Fade’ and ‘Rainbow’ and a year of co-writing and songwriting sessions abroad. ‘Gave It All Away’ has been released as two different versions: one is a strikingly raw, acoustic recording by Baker, and the other is an electronic dance track produced by none other than Fat Freddy’s Drop legend behind the MPC, Mu.

Written alone by the young Wellington-based songwriter, “Gave It All Away” came to life late one night in a hotel room, far from the grounding lights of home. Baker recalls that moment of creative revelation: “I remember feeling the exhaustion starting to set in, after being on the road by myself in the UK for quite some time. The song is about not giving up on your dreams. It’s about never giving in. It’s about the resolve and determination one must have in order to make these dreams become reality.”

Last year, Louis spent a great deal of time overseas, creating new material and collaborating with a range of fellow songwriters from around the world. In late 2016, he attended ASCAP’s Songwriter Retreat – a prestigious songwriting camp held at the Château Marouatte castle in Southern France during the latter half of September. Previous attendees have included Ellie Goulding, James Bay, Mika, Mike Posner, Dougy Mandagi (The Temper Trap) and Tom Higgenson (Plain White T’s).

Throughout travelling and seeing the world in 2016, the 27-year-old Wellingtonian released two singles, “Rainbow” and “Fade”, which invited us into a new chapter in this soulful singer-songwriter’s book and a new era of his musical evolution, further marked by third release “Gave It All Away”.

So go on, enter into this talented singer’s new chapter and listen to this latest effort.

Song of the Day: Return of the Mack (Seeb Remix) – Mark Morrison

mark-morrison

On its 21st anniversary, MARK MORRISON‘s ‘Return of the Mack’ gets remix treatment from Norwegian dance duo Seeb.

Seeb had a sensational 2016, their remix of Mike Posner’s ‘I Took A Pill In Ibiza’ became a Grammy nominated monster hit, and was globally the third most streamed song of the year, with over one billion streams.

MARK MORRISON‘s debut album in ’96, ‘Return of the Mack’, was a multi-platinum success, selling three million copies worldwide. The single reached number one in the UK, and spent a remarkable 41 weeks on the US Billboard singles chart, peaking at number two.

New Music Video: Hip-Hop & Cartoons – Gena Perala

gena-perala-hip-hop-and-cartoons-full-video

The teaser was a huge hit and was named Video of the Week by NEW LEASE MUSIC…now here’s your chance to watch the full version of GENA PERALA‘s visual to single, ‘Hip-Hop & Cartoons.’

Appropriately released on Valentine’s Day, the Vancouver singer/songwriter shows love for the brilliance and power of hip-hop and cartoons in the two-and-a-half production, referring to the two mediums as her church song.

The video was launched in conjunction with a Crowdfunding campaign to support her upcoming downtempo/electro synth album…look out for that!

For now, check out the video for ‘Hip-Hop & Cartoons.’