Song of the Day: And I’m Gone – Leon Seti

Italian born, Amsterdam based LEON SETI is the creative brainchild of Leo Baldi. Producing and singing throughout his discography, the enigmatic artist shared his single ‘And I’m Gone’.

His nostalgic yet experimental electro-pop has been played by the BBC Introducing and featured on Billboard Italy. He’s also received support from CLASH, and his album COBALT reached #1 on the iTunes Electronic Chart in Italy, earning him comparisons to the likes of Björk, Peter Gabriel and The Pet Shop Boys. Seti’s second album was equally impressive, released to rave reviews it reached #1 on the iTunes Electronic Chart in Italy and the Netherlands, while simultaneously cementing itself in the iTunes Top 10 of general sales in both countries. In addition to this, Leon Seti has appeared at venues such as The O2 Academy Islington and The Spice of Life in London, historic clubs like Spin Time Labs in Rome and Il Cassero in Bologna and at festivals such as Mengo Fest and Pride in Amsterdam.

Inspired by the artists he watched as a kid on TV, Leon Seti has always lived and breathed music. Growing up in a small town in Italy, he started singing late in his teens, joining various rock bands before eventually gravitating to writing pop songs on his laptop. After completing high school, he moved to the UK where he completed a BA in philosophy while simultaneously trying to establish himself as an artist. Going on to achieve an MA in philosophy in London, he never lost sight of his true passion, working many jobs while still pursuing his love for music.

Grimoire is a stunning LP where Leon Seti’s voice takes center stage over deep and nostalgic electronic instrumentals produced by Pancratio. It’s a kaleidoscopic collection of Seti’s thoughts, dreams and desires, with love often at the forefront of the message. Reminiscent of artists such as BANKS, Bjork and Imogen Heap, each track is personal and introspective, abundantly rich in vocal harmonies and layers. There’s also a deep feeling of continuity between the songs, with each one standing out in its own enchanting way, while simultaneously retaining the same theme throughout. Using his voice as his main weapon, Seti wears his heart on his sleeve, inviting the listener to step into his world and resonate with his lyrics and emotive vocals.

Leon Seti’s depth and talent shines in ‘And I’m Gone’. It’s a track full of passion and intricacies, one where Seti’s voice is upfront and present, emitting a real warmth and essence that is easily felt. Instrumentally, it’s nostalgic, with a plethora of synthetic elements that hold the track together and keep the listener engaged in its rich sonic soundscape- from bubbling arpeggios to plush pads. However, the lyrics are the true star of the show, as Seti sings about self-discovery and escapism from a love that he knows isn’t right.

Leon Seti had this to say: “Grimoire” is an album I wrote about the healing of trauma. I wanted every song to feel like a spell in a magic book, where the pain feels so old it’s almost acting like a balm. ‘And I’m Gone’, specifically, is a song about wanting to escape from a place of dread and solitude, and even though I talk like I’ve already left, it was actually written while I was living in London and wanting to escape a toxic relationship.

Check out the video for ‘And I’m Gone’ below…

Song of the Day: True (Live) – Ryan Hylton

As part of Platoon’s new EP, ‘A UK Gospel Celebration,’ rising star RYAN HYLTON exclusively shares his single ‘True,’ a musical creation that delves deep into the human experience. The song’s powerful message resonates with the challenges individuals face when chasing success, compelling listeners to question their relationship with fame and materialistic desires.

Hailing from London, UK, Ryan Hylton made a dynamic entrance onto the music scene with the release of his EP, ‘Journey, in May 2020.’ These heartfelt songs deeply resonated with audiences, showcasing Ryan’s exceptional talent and conveying profound messages.

Later in 2020, Ryan Hylton unveiled his highly anticipated debut studio album, ‘Legacy.’ This remarkable album achieved notable success, reaching the 13th position on the UK Apple Charts for Gospel music. It was a testament to Ryan’s ability to connect with his listeners and deliver music that strikes a chord.
Influenced by renowned artists like Jonathan McReynolds, Justin Bieber, Tauren Wells, H.E.R., and homegrown talents Ernie Toppin and Nathan Palmer, Ryan has crafted his own unique musical style. He draws inspiration from their exceptional talent, infusing his songs with powerful messages of faith and hope.

‘True’ serves as a compelling invitation to navigate life’s journey and discover what genuinely matters. Drawing inspiration from the evolving sounds of Justin Bieber, Ryan infuses his music with a refreshing summer vibe, expertly blending funky grooves and infectious choruses. Through his captivating melodies, Ryan instils a sense of hope and embarks on a quest for personal truth and authenticity.
In the words of Ryan himself, “You’re my strength when life’s tough, my identity in you is worth more than fame.”

‘True’ weaves a fresh and crisp pop-woven vibe throughout, with Ryan’s melodies and lyricism providing a harmonious and relatable cause for his audience and beyond. His soft and luscious vocals provide the perfect platform for Ryan to shine, and he does so in spades in ‘True,’ further showcasing his talent and affirming his potential as one of the most influential Christian artists of our time.

Have a listen to Ryan’s stunning single below…

Song of the Day: Parallel Universe – Theo Tams

Fresh off the back of his most recent trilogy of covers, Uncovered (Volume 2), THEO TAMS shares his latest single, ‘Parallel Universe’ . On a recent trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, the artist teamed up with up and coming producer, Mahrow, to create a global anthem exploring the concept of soulmates and all the myriad directions our connections can go in.

“I get super inspired by travel and I was in the beginning stages of planning my wedding at the time,” explains Tams. “I just started thinking all of those thoughts like ‘What if we never met?’ What if I lived here instead? What would my life look like?’”

The song’s sultry production and vocals capture what Tams describes as that flirtatious energy that comes with travelling and being somewhere new, the feeling that you can be whoever you want to be when you’re out of your comfort zone. Listen to ‘Parallel Universe’ below…

OUT TODAY: Darren Parry is no longer ‘Outside Looking In’ with new single

Hot on the heels of his last single, ‘Unconditional’, multi-award winning Welsh, singer/songwriter DARREN PARRY has a brand new single waiting to be heartedly embraced by the listeners again entitled ‘Outside Looking In’, out now across various music platforms.

This contemporary piece of earworm Pop was co-written with Rachel Walker Mason. Rachel Walker Mason is a multi-award winning musician, currently writing songs with Grammy Nominees, Billboard Hot 100 Artists, Alumni from The Voice UK and American Idol, Emmy Winners and Independent Country Music Association Award Winners. A highly regarded songwriting and vocal judge, Rachel was a judge for NTA nominated Sing: Ultimate A Cappella on Sky One and is a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, Strive and the Intercontinental Music Awards.

‘Outside Looking In’ was written via Zoom in 2022 as Rachel had heard some of Darren’s songs and got in touch to write. Darren says.“It was great that I was on Rachel’s radar, we had a lot of fun writing this and wrote 90% of it in about a 2 hr Zoom call. I think we had a second short Zoom call to tidy up some loose ends and voila… it was done! I had the chorus idea going around my head for over a year or so before so I played it for Rachel and it struck a chord with her, so that’s the idea we ran with”

Darren recorded and produced the track with young, hip, Swansea producer Dai Griffiths (Dai Griff Productions). Dai has had a lot of success recently with various artists such as BBC Radio Wales Welsh playlist ‘A listers’ Ify Iwobi, Luna Lot and Mal Pope.

Darren’s achievements in music include… 2004 ‘UK Songwriting Champion’ (beating 6000 entries from around the globe), 2014 and 2016 USA ‘Song Of The Year’ contest runner up (judges included Gwen Stefani, Don Henley and Phil Collins), 2019 ISSA Awards ‘International Male Vocalist Of The Year’ Silver Crystal Award winner and multiple other awards from Billboard and Unisong, to name but a few! Darren has co-written songs with hit songwriters like James Warren (The Korgis, “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime”), Dazzle Music (Charlotte Church), Steve Balsamo (Cliff Richard, Slash, Meatloaf) and many others.

Darren has had a busy year or two with winning the 2021 ISSA (International Singer Songwriters Association) ‘Int. Male Songwriter Of The Year’ Silver Crystal Award in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, writing a song for the new The Korgis album (‘Broken’), having four new songs on Lee Gilbert’s brand new album (‘Take Me As I Am’), including the title track, releasing his own singles, writing for other artists as well as various film and media projects.

‘Outside Looking In’ is a great collaboration between two noteworthy songwriters who manifest a positive, upbeat, slick, contemporary Pop track that sees Darren really showcase his three and a half octave vocal range!

Darren says of his latest offering…”I wanted this song to have a universal message. The song is for anyone and everyone who feels they have ever been ‘outside looking in’, i.e. feeling that the world has brought them down, that the challenges of life are difficult to overcome. There is a scene in the film ‘Trading Places’ (I love that film) where Dan Aykroyd, looking cold, hungry and wet is in the rain, looking through a restaurant window at those inside laughing and enjoying themselves. It’s a real metaphor for what many of us have experienced, that of feeling not part of something, not achieving your true potential. It’s a song about realising that you always had wings (even though you didn’t know it) and now it’s time to open them and fly! Now is the time to have that confidence… it’s your time to shine!”

‘Outside Looking In’ is out on various music platforms from Friday 29th September and forms part of his forthcoming new EP, ‘Learning The Hard Way.’

Connect with Darren Parry via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/darrenparrymusic
T: https://twitter.com/darrenparry
IG: https://www.instagram.com/darrenparryphotos/

Watch Classified’s video for track, ‘People’

Prolific award-winning Canadian rapper CLASSIFIED releases a powerful new single ‘People’ via HalfLife Records / Big Story Entertainment and available via all streaming services.

Written and produced by Classified, ‘People’ is a commentary on the selfishness, divisiveness, and lack of empathy in society, suggesting that humanity is collectively responsible for the problems we face and that everyone needs to come together and unite as one. In the track Classified emphasizes the need to focus on the commonalities among people, rather than dwell on irrelevant differences.

“People was a difficult song to write, but I believe that its message needs to be talked about with the current state of the world,” says Classified. “I see so much separation in society stemming from arguments on race, religion, gender, orientation – and at the same time, so many bigger problems in our world being ignored because we are caught up in these differences. One day, I was just like ‘I’m sick of everybody’ and started writing this song. Even though it might come off as negative, I believe that people who actually pay attention to lyrics will understand that this song actually delivers a POSITIVE message, and I HOPE that it brings people together.”

The video for ‘People’ was shot in Classified’s hometown of Enfield, NS by Brothers Boyd (Classified and his brother Mike Boyd). Like the song, the video is evocative and emotionally resonant and urges for a change in perspective and a greater sense of unity for a better future.

‘People’ is the first release in a new partnership between Classified’s HalfLife Records and Big Story Entertainment. Based in Toronto, Big Story Entertainment is dedicated to providing a platform for unique voices in the music industry.

In 2021, Classified released Retrospected, an acoustic hip hop album covering his greatest hits and fan favorites. Retrospected turned into a 40-date sold-out tour across Canada, a win for Artist Innovator of the Year at the 2023 East Coast Music Awards, and a 2023 JUNO Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year. Classified also launched his autobiography Off The Beat ‘N Path, which shot to No. 1 on Amazon’s Pop Biographies chart.

As one of the most influential hip-hop artists in Canada with over 250 million streams globally, the multiple JUNO Award winner hosted the 2014 JUNO Awards and has a combined 30 nominations and 10 wins between the MuchMusic Video Awards, JUNO Awards, and East Coast Music Awards.

Check out the compelling video for ‘People’ below…