Acclaimed nu-soul sensation JESSICA WILDE has unveiled the video for her latest track, ‘Heads In The Roses’, which is a dark and meaningful song about the escapism of drug mis-use represented in a gorgeous bass loaded resplendent soulful production.
‘Heads In The Roses’ is about burying your head in the roses and not facing up to the reality of addiction, framed in catchy nu-soul pop chic.
About the track Jess explains, “I found love in this escapism…I was fully caught up in the fantasy and wanted that captured in the video which re-enacts a true romance story between me and another girl.”
‘Heads In The Roses’ is from her highly anticipated debut album ‘Sober, Wasted, Wasted, Sober’ releases earlier this month…why not check out the video below…
Fresh off a North American tour, New York-based singe songwriter MAE KRELL releases her new EP, ‘imposter syndrome.’ The 4-track EP is the culmination of Mae’s artistic and personal development over the past two years: “I’ve grown up, begun to gain confidence as an artist, and had the opportunity to have my voice really listened to in every step of the music making process. With all of this positive change still comes doubt; and often really intense imposter syndrome, at least for me. This record is about pushing through it because you know it’ll all be worth it.”
The EP is named after the final single to be released, “imposter syndrome,” but was actually inspired by an experience working on one of the other tracks on the EP.
Explaining how it came to be, Mae says, “while working on ‘phantom limb,’ Jakob Leventhal (producer) brought in an incredible pianist to play on the track. While sitting in the studio I had this overwhelming feeling of not being talented enough and feeling like I shouldn’t be there. Imposter syndrome is such a common feeling, especially for people from minority backgrounds, and it really hit me like a truck that day.”
That was then followed by going home and writing this song. Over the course of the ‘impostor syndrome’ EP, Mae masterfully and heart-wrenchingly dissects the relatable feeling of self-doubt. The songs are melodic, intimate, and packed with cathartic lyricism that will strike a chord.
At just 22 years old, Mae exudes a musicality wise beyond her years. Influenced by revered singer-songwriters like Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers, and Gregory Alan Isakov, her songs are intimate reflections that confront trauma, self-love, and personal truths. With a distinct folk-pop sound and introspective lyrical chops, Mae has earned millions of streams across her repertoire with multiple tracks breaking 500K. With a multitude of career milestones already under her belt, Mae is taking it one day at a time and focusing on writing and recording songs that reach new emotional heights.
Newcomer ELLIE BYERS may well pull a few heartstrings with her debut, ‘Role Play’ as the smooth, toe tingling afterhours single is universally relatable when it comes to relationships.
The UK R&B/pop songbird says of her debut: “Role Play is a very personal song to me. It’s about pretending to be what you think your partner needs and wants, in an effort to keep a floating relationship afloat – even if it means sacrificing who you really are.”
Through her debut, Ellie hopes those in a familiar situation, will find solace and overcome that feeling of being second best to their partner.
‘Role Play’ is the first release from Ellie’s upcoming debut EP ‘Too Far Gone,’ slated for release in late 2022. Have a listen to ‘Role Play’ below…
ALANA SUKUL is an exciting, new-on-the-scene artist emerging from South West London. With parents hailing from the Caribbean, she has grown up surrounded by the influences from her culture that she has interpreted into her image, musical style and character, while also blending in the vibe of hip-hop culture. Although she is often perceived as a soulful R&B artist, she refuses to be identified as fitting into any single genre and instead experimenting with a variety of sounds and styles such as her current favourite, R&B-tinged funk-pop.
Throughout 2021, the 20-year-old newcomer introduced listeners to her genre-blending style with dancey pop number ‘Be Friends’ and upbeat bop ‘Closer’, both with a deeper message that can be interpreted by the listener however they wish. One thing that’s clear, Alana doesn’t write love songs, instead her lyrics reflect the wide variety of struggles that life can throw up at you, but always with a positive attitude.
This is something that you’ll hear in her first release of 2022, ‘Good To You’. It’s a heartfelt reminder to cut yourself some slack and to not crumble under the pressure, which are present right throughout our lives, but for Alana, it’s young adulthood that she’s facing right now. Throughout the song, she incorporates dancehall rhythms and luxurious pop melodies into a simmering production.
Speaking about the main motivating behind ‘Good To You’, Alana Sukul shares: “Sometimes as young adults we try to live up to certain standards and pressure, this is just a reminder to live your life the way you want to.”
Indie, dream pop artist RYAN WRIGHT‘s surreal and intense debut EP, ‘A Dream I’ll Forget’, is the half-forgotten soundtrack of a memory: the music blasting through the gritty speaker of your ex’s beat up car, windows rolled down, flying fast down a familiar highway.
The motif of teenage intensity serves as the EP’s consistent through-line—the internal monologue of a person experiencing the highs and lows of “firsts”. Recurring images of cars, parties, and cell phones serve as a reminder that ground the listener squarely in the world of teenage carnality but are juxtaposed with references to the sky, dreams, and music, pointing to something more ephemeral -and more eternal.
Lyrically, Wright hints at traumas that are both intimate and individual, but the sentiments are open to interpretation and can be applied universally. There’s a dark humour that undercuts that intensity—a winking acknowledgement of how trivial the vicissitudes of the teenage experience truly are despite how dire they may feel in the moment.
‘A Dream I’ll Forget’ is the musical embodiment of the teenage experience in all its confusing, messy, exhilarating glory. Why not check out the EP below…
New Lease Music 