Currently preparing her debut EP, Australian born and bred Pop/RnB artist, BELORA dishes up her debut single and the lead single from the EP, ‘Dear X’, a vibrant, groovy, R&B ode to that someone who is special in your life. It is about longing for someone or something, but that love was unrequited. The use of ‘X’ in the title evokes a sense of mystery and hope whilst enabling the listener to interpret the song and relate it to their own experiences.
Aiming to captivate the world with her delicate tone to create a distinctive sound all can relate to, the soulful newcomer is inspired by the groovy tunes of the Motown legends & sultry themes of Contemporary R&B such as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.
Belora is hoping to establish a firm fanbase, by building a meaningful connection with people with her emotive storytelling. ‘Dear X’ is a great introduction to what this artist is capable of and I have a feeling that her EP would be an absolute delight!
‘Dear X’ was released on Friday (19th November) on all digital music platforms. Check it out below…
After sharing ‘Finesse,’ a highly relatable tale of not being able to say “no” to a toxic ex, Nija returns with a new single, ‘On Call,’ that finds her clearly in control when it comes to late night phone calls. Released today by Capitol Records, ‘On Call’ was produced by Ambezza (Drake, Future, Tinashe) and Larkin Noir.
Nija was recently named as one of VEVO DSCVR’s Artists To Watch 2022. She is also a member of the Black Voices Fund Artist Class of 2022.
‘On Call’ follows ‘Ease My Mind (Come Over),’ Nija’s debut single, which The FADER praised as a “booming, drill production-backed banger,” and ‘Finesse,’ which V Magazine described as “a smooth spitfire of a song that takes on a pounding bass and progressively smooth beat to help amplify the singer’s vocals.” UPROXX named “Finesse” as one of the best new R&B songs and noted, “Compared to her first release, ‘Finesse’ flaunts a slower tempo while maintaining a bounce.
Born in New Jersey and now based in Los Angeles, Nija had written scores of Billboard Hot 100 hits before she had even turned 21 Rolling Stone called her “one of music’s most sought-after songwriters.” Now – at 23 – the three-time GRAMMY Award-winning contributor is gaining widespread acclaim for her own music and relishing in the freedom to fully express herself.
InStyle noted, “Nothing is stopping Nija” and placed her on its “Badass 50,” a list of women who making the world a better place in 2021. VIBE hailed her as “a vocal talent whose sultry tone brings her lyrics to life.” Tipping her as a breakout artist on the rise, People said, “the brain behind some of the biggest hits…is now ready to make a name for herself.”
Led by last autumn’s ‘Whistles’ that helped her reach over half a million streams on Spotify, and her new single ‘Santiago’, which has been met with rave reviews and is being championed by KALTBLUT Magazine, Impose Magazine, IGGY Magazine and Ones To Watch, among others, to build on the recent support she has received from the likes of NPR, SXSW, RFB Magazine, and New York Foundation for the Arts, 22-year old New York City multimedia artist and songwriter ISA REYES unveils her long-awaited debut EP titled BELS.
Written and recorded by Isa Reyes, and co-produced by Gamal Abdu (Nyck Caution, Thutmose, Alex Mali) and Caine Casket, who comes backed by Complex, Office Magazine and Lyrical Lemonade, among others, with Reyes also collaborating with Julian Kaufman and Layla Ku from NYC collective MICHELLE on ‘Black Velvet’, the third song on the project, the 4-track BELS EP is music that connects, heals and empowers, driven by Isa Reyes’ enchanting vocals, atmospheric compositions, compelling songwriting, and alternative R&B / indie-pop sensibilities.
The record opens up with the intimate title track ‘Bels’, which is led by contrasting soft guitar arrangements and samba drums patterns, and sees Isa attempting to make peace with her childhood. The EP then flows into the hip-hop influenced ‘Whistles’, where Isa takes a self-reflective and appreciative look at the struggles on her journey so far, and the sassy sultry R&B ballad ‘Black Velvet’, over which she tries to reclaim her self-worth in a relationship, before culminating in the gripping pop-folk ballad ‘Santiago’, which serves to inspire others to navigate their path freely, and as a reminder to Isa that she still has so much more to offer to the world.
Speaking about the inspiration behind her BELS EP, Isa Reyes says, “Thematically, ‘BELS’ takes you on a journey of vulnerability, nostalgia, love, belonging, grief, depression, heritage, generational trauma, and coming to terms with the past. Each song is like a location and time in my life that I’m reflecting on or paying homage to. It is also an embodiment of processing for me. ‘BELS’ is the culmination of that journey, one that we are all on, one of the processes of self-growth and acceptance. For me, each track is a step into that process”.
After reeling in tens of millions of streams and earning acclaim from American Songwriter, FLAUNT Magazine, and more, fast rising New Jersey, R&B/hip-hop artist 3BREEZY unveils a new single and music video entitled “Can’t FWU,” out now on Capitol Records. Listen HERE.
On the track, he leans into thumping drums and smooth guitar with a melodic cadence. Pouring his heart out about a doomed relationship, he croons the hook, “I can’t fuck with you,” before warning, “Take a look at where ya at, I told you in the end Breezy gonna have the last laugh.” Directed by AROD2UP, the accompanying visual brings the story to life as it pulls no punches in its depiction of a rough breakup with a light at the end of the tunnel when our hero moves on.
It stands out as the follow-up to his recent single “Self Love.” Inciting critical acclaim right out of the gate, American Songwriter hailed it as “technically elegant and sonically moving” and promised it “sets the bar high for Breezy’s upcoming music.” It also garnered looks from Imprint, Hip Hop XXIV, and more. However, FLAUNT summed Breezy up best, christening him “Your new favorite R&B/hip-hop artist.”
The single paves the way for Breezy’s new project Catch A Breeze, which is available for pre-order now and set to be released on 12th November. The album caps off an incredible journey from Breezy who, in unprecedented fashion, changed to plans from being a veterinary technician to producing and releasing his own songs.
3Breezy will also be releasing a documentary in November, giving us an inside where he comes from, family in his life, and upcoming music….be sure to look out for that…but for now, check out the video for ‘Can’t FWU’ below…
After I was introduced to her single, ‘Fess Up’, South London’s singer/songwriter CHERYLL has been firmly on my radar, because she is to keeping old good R&B alive – and I must say, this newcomer does it REALLY well.
Her latest single, ‘Fallin’, chronicles her feelings for her love interest. Producer D’wante Navire puts a modern spin on 90s R&B on the single, by injecting a deep flirtatious bassline.
‘Fallin’ follows her debut EP, ‘Transition’. Cheryll discussed the inspiration behind producing the five-track set in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. You can read it right here …but before you head off, have a listen to the track below…
New Lease Music 