R &B Star CHERYLL and Afro-fusion princess REBECCA WINTER have teamed up, claiming the blog’s Song of the Day top spot with latest single, ‘Come Thru’.
Produced by Dwante Navire, this summer bop will transport you back to the 90s with its titillating R&B soulful vibes, directed at a love interest who is more than keen to make a move, but they’re dragging their feet to Come Thru – and through their lyrics, the girls makes it very clear they’re not wasting any time.
With every potential to be a summer hit, ‘Come Thru’ adds to the strength of both artists’ burgeoning music journey: A MOBO unsung semi-finalist, Cheryll’s impressive contribution to the London music scene has been recognised by Robin Thicke , where as Rebecca Winter has opened for the likes of Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy.
Largely known for solely utilising their spine tingling harmonies, which captivated listeners of all walks of life from across the globe, UK’s very own A cappella quartet VADÉ (pronounced vah-day), have taken a fruitful route with their latest single, ‘Mango’, out now across various music platforms.
2023 sees the guys venturing out and experimenting with various genres and they certainly push their creative boundaries to new grounds with ‘Mango’, by incorporating a summer-charged instrumental – a vibrant fusion of Afrobeats and R&B – to complement their infamous harmonies.
They said of their latest offering, which was featured on BBC Radio London and BBC Radio Berkshire: “We wanted a song that represented who we are as well as something that captured fundamental parts of our lives, so we came up with Mango, combining the exotic fruit with culture and how the sweetness of it relates to the fondness of a partner.”
The lyrics capture in simplicity some of the things the guys love about their partners: “You’re not the fighting type/baby you’re sweet and fine/ you got my back when i need it/ you be my ride or die!” Similarly, the single also describes how they liken this love to the sweetness of some of the foods and drink synonymous with their Afro-Caribbean culture, “You’re sweeter than Fanta oh, plantain and pineapple!”
Vadé was formed by Philip Yeboah and JJ Hammersley in the summer of 2013 and was later joined by Jermaine Sanderson and Roy Crisp. Their aim is to encourage listeners to reimagine today’s hits and timeless classics through a cappella by collaborating with other artists and together. Their mission paid off as Vadé have quickly captured the attention of music lovers all around the world. Since late 2021, they have accumulated over 16M views of their musical arrangements across their social media channels and have engaged with their fans through duets on TikTok.The evolution of Vadé’s sound progressed in the summer of 2022 while collaborating with Erik “Blu2th” Griggs, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and multi-platinum producer for Dr. Dre and Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men. The result was their first festive single, ‘Christmas Wish’ was released in November 2022.Vadé continues to explore new music styles through their debut EP later this year…until then, the guys gives an exotic taste from their forthcoming collection with ‘Mango’, out now across all music download and streaming sites.
Introducing the Kenyan-born, Los Angeles-based XENA MANASSEH and her new single ‘Anticipate’ featuring fellow Kenyan artist Karun. The ethereal new single is imbued with 90s R&B sensibilities as the two artists unite, their hypnotic voices sizzling over a glittering, cinematic production. The single marks the latest taste from Xenia’s forthcoming much-anticipated 11-track debut LP Love/Hate Pt.1 slated for release on 1st September.
‘Anticipate’ appears alongside recent release ‘Temporary Love’ on Love/Hate Pt.1, the two singles marking an exciting taste of what’s to come from this ineffable debut. The beautifully curated album sees Xenia blend complex, intricate productions with appearances from the likes of Tay Iwar and Shalom Dubas.
Xenia Manasseh is a breathtaking global rising talent. Blending an eclectic offering of R&B shot-through with flavours of afro-soul, the emerging artist has already worked with the likes of Teyana Taylor, Burna Boy, GoldLink and more. With two EPs under her belt, 2019’s Falling Apart and 2022’s Maybe which includes the single ‘Love Me or Leave Me’ (1M+ Spotify streams) and support from Spotify (Xenia has been an ‘EQUAL’ and ‘RADAR’ ambassador), Xenia is making waves as an artist who blends stunning lyrical relatability with lush vocals and intricate songwriting. Have a listen to ‘Anticipate’ below…
Acclaimed producer SKYLINE SUN and captivating singer MÍO MA bring together their unique talents to create a mesmerizing release that explores the cycles within society, balancing introspection and vivaciousness through their new EP entitled ‘Hibernation.’
Drawing inspiration from the ebb and flow of life’s rhythms, ‘Hibernation’ delves deep into the multifaceted nature of existence. The EP navigates the introspective moments of solitude and self-reflection, symbolized by the concept of hibernation, while also celebrating the vibrant and socially vivacious aspects of human connection.
This release serves as a gateway to this compelling musical journey, enveloping listeners in a comforting embrace with its roots firmly planted in R&B and Soul while also showing a true and unhindered artistic expression from the duo. Skyline Sun’s impeccable production skills shine through, creating a lush sonic landscape that perfectly complements Mío Ma’s enchanting vocals. The result is a harmonious blend of familiar R&B elements and innovative, fresh sounds, born straight from the gut feelings of the two artists.
Commenting on the upcoming release Mío Ma said, “The entire feeling of the EP is that stomach dropping moment or breath just before you fall down from the apex of a rollercoaster. That sense of rising and falling within our own cycles, whether it be seasonal or societal is something everyone can relate to.”
Both based in Berlin, Skyline Sun is the musical moniker for producer and multi-instrumentalist Jarrah Dhyan, while Mío Ma is the moniker for multi-disciplined musician, actress, dancer and curator Sara Vidal Cabré.
London’s Gospel songbird OLAEDO IBE releases her brand new single, ‘Golden Skin’, out today (24th August) across various music platforms. Wrapped in a smooth Afrobeat vibe and R&B undertones, the single is taken from Olaedo Ibe’s third album also called Golden Skin, coming out very soon.
Featuring fellow UK gospel singer RAE RAE, ‘Golden Skin’ touches on sensitive topics such as colourism and skin bleaching but ends with a message of love, hope and self-acceptance. The single also makes a comparison between skin and gold, encouraging the listener to be happy the way they are. Olaedo Ibe’s favourite line of the song is bridge which says: “Whatever you were born in God has made a way for you to win.”
Initially, ‘Golden Skin’ was a source of self-encouragement for Olaedo and she sang to herself whilst working as a nurse. However, when she started working on Dermatology units, Burns and Plastic surgery, the focus of the single changed as she witnessed men and women use harmful products on their skin to lighten their skin tone. Her passion grew on this topic when she read a report by the World Health Organisation indicated that over 70% of Nigerian women use skin bleaching products, increasing the risk of skin cancer, liver damage, kidney damage and thinning skin.
‘Golden Skin’ is also used to create awareness about the British skin foundation to raise funds for skin research.
Born in London to Nigerian parents, Olaedo Ibe started out singing in church and local events from a young age and quickly found her forte in combining music with words of empowerment that’s relatable and touching to people, regardless of race, background and religious beliefs. Her crossover appeal gave her the opportunity to share the stage with Motown legend Peobo Bryson.
Olaedo Ibe released her debut EP, ‘Shine Like Gold’ in 2015, which gained a nomination for the MOBO Premier Gospel Music and Urban music award later that year. She followed up with her second EP, ‘Grow to Glow’ in 2018 which features ‘Lead Me’, ‘Good Life’, featuring Leke and Becca Folkes, and ‘Fill Us’ (a Children’s song). All three tracks from the EP claimed the top ten spot on the UK Christian Chart.
To date, Olaedo has accumulated over 100,000 combined views on her Youtube channel, over 80,000 combined streams on Spotify and over 53,000 combined streams on Soundcloud.
Out today (24th August) across various music platforms, ‘Golden Skin’ forms part of Olaedo Ibe’s third album also called Golden Skin, coming out soon. Check out the revitalising single below…
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