Tag: pop music

Song of the Day: avoid! – Sion

German-born and South Korea-based multi hyphenate SION has returned with the release of his highly anticipated EP, ‘Sociavoidance’. Marking a transformative period for the hit-maker, ‘Sociavoidance’ goes against what we’re accustomed to, navigating a variety of genre-bending sounds; the 5-track project is a step in a different direction for the storyteller. Following on from the February release of ‘O.o’, we dive deeper into Sion’s unpredictable world. With an EU tour on the horizon later this year, ‘Sociavoidance’ is a glimpse of what to expect on stage.

Exploring the disassociation in modern-day interaction, Sion bares elements of vulnerability as he confronts his fears and desires surrounding social interaction and relationships, forming a comforting familiarity for many that’s enriched with depth and emotion. Boasting a refreshed creative flare, ‘Sociavoidance’ finely blends indie electronica, abstract hip-hop, alt R&B, and glitch pop yet still remains cohesively structured. After hours of refining the smaller details, this project reflects a time of great significance and self-reflection.

Opening the EP with “avoid!”, Sion instantly sets the tone as he acknowledges his disillusionment with modern-day relationships. Confronting his difficulty with human connection, he shares that his existing relationships are strained because of it.

”When asked about the difference between this album and previous projects, Sion explained, “This project marks the beginning of a new journey for me musically. I dove into different subgenres such as indie electronica, abstract hip-hop, alt R&B, and glitch pop, while trying to bind together all these different sounds in a cohesive manner through tons of sound design. I’m not sure, and kind of scared about how it will resonate with my audience right now. But at some point, I needed to progress, and this work certainly gives me the courage to experiment with even more genres and styles going forward in my career. I want to be remembered as an artist who has many facets but maintains a distinct colour, and I’d like to believe that this album is a good start in the right direction.”

Listen to ‘avoid!’ below…

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Song of the Day: Leaves – Sann Rao

SANN RAO‘s latest offering, ‘Leaves’, is an introspective track that blends moody piano synths and punchy drums with soulful, expressive vocals, creating a vibe that’s both defiant and reflective. The song uses rich metaphors to express the superficiality and emptiness of certain figures in the music industry, while celebrating one’s authenticity and strong foundation. The song will be promoted with skits, a music video and short-form content.

“Leaves to me is about shallow relationships and the lack of authenticity in the music industry but also everyday life. (…) I talk about how I’m trying to live life differently to the people I’ve met and the meaningless interactions I’ve experienced.

(…) I want the listeners to have a better understanding of who I am as a person and I’d like them to see that I make music to contribute something truthful to the world” – Sann Rao

Sann Rao, a 27-year-old R&B sensation hailing from Surrey, UK, brings a unique and distinctive voice to the industry. Of Indian heritage, Sann’s vocal prowess is characterised by an impressive range that captivates audiences. His sound has earned him praise at open mic performances, where his hard work and dedication shine through.

Investing in his craft and driven by an unwavering belief in his talent, Sann is a relentless artist committed to pushing his musical boundaries. The singer-songwriter has garnered praise from both fellow musicians and new fans, who recognize his exceptional talent and eagerly anticipate his future releases.

In collaboration with BBC Radio Producer and frequent creative partner, Illatek, Sann Rao is building a lane for himself in the music landscape. Their latest release, ‘In 2 U,’ dropped mid December 2023 and has garnered over 9,000 listens on Spotify, contributing to their collective success of over 50,000 streams across their collaborations. The track made waves across the UK, with radio station shows such as BBC Radio and Kishmeister at Itch FM featuring the song in their rotations. Sann’s first official release, ‘Honest,’ which debuted in February 2024, has reached +15k streams on Spotify.

Currently under the representation of Oh Eight, a label and talent management services agency, Sann is poised to ascend to the next level of his musical journey. As he continues to evolve and enchant with his melodies, Sann Rao stands as a rising star in the R&B scene, leaving a mark on the industry with his one-of-a-kind voice and unwavering passion for the art.

Listen to ‘Leaves’ below…

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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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Song of the Day: Ghost – Klaudia Keziah

Growing up between England and Lithuania, KLAUDIA KEZIAH first found music through her ability to play instruments. Studying music from the age of eight, she embarked on her music journey, selecting the cello and piano as her instruments of choice.

Self-taught as a producer, singer and songwriter, her time composing music helped shape the style that she delivers on her single ‘Ghost ’. Her distinctive tone and emotionally driven lyrics dance with the sweet, yet hard-hitting production that gives her a unique signature sound.

Speaking on the meaning behind the track Klaudia commented – “Ghost” delves into the discovery of betrayal, as the main character realises they’ve been cheated on, leaving the cheater grasping at apologies and excuses, though it’s too late! The idea of “Ghost” lies in the haunting presence the protagonist embodies, as the former partner yearns to revive the relationship. With the main character haunting the cheater, it serves as a poignant representation of lingering, regret and unresolved emotions.’

The juxtaposition between the song’s sweet melodies and its somber theme aims to create a striking contrast.

‘Ghost’ is the first single from Klaudia’s upcoming 3 track EP due to land later this year.

Gaining previous support from Wonderland, Raydar Magazine, Industry Me, DJ Ace, Radio 2’s ‘Funky Playlist’, ‘Track of the Week’ Voice FM, Wordplay Magazine, We Are Beyond Noise, BBC Introducing, The Hype Magazine and more, ‘Ghost’ follows up from the 2022 release ‘Hero’ that swiftly caught the attention of various tastemakers and publications. Have a listen to ‘Ghost’ below…

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Bliss Williams goes down memory lane with new EP, ‘Gramercy’.

London-based BLISS WILLIAMS’ first memories of music are the tapes of 60s pop and soul his parents kept in the car when he was little. This early introduction to timeless songwriting from the likes of The Beach Boys, not to mention all those Motown classics, left an indelible mark.

Fast-forward to 2024 and Williams’ tunes have been championed by John Kennedy on Radio X and Gary Crowley on the BBC, while recent single ‘A Thousand Times Before’ (featuring Paul Weller drummer Ben Gordelier) was playlisted by Spotify.

Sharing his childhood memories of music, Bliss Williams shares his new acoustic EP ‘Gramercy’, which is out now across various music platforms. Recorded live in just a handful of takes, ‘Gramercy’ sees Williams momentarily depart from his usual brand of electric soul to showcase his songwriting in its rawest form – stripped-back, sensitive and no less soulful.

Listen to ‘Gramercy’ below…

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