I gonna kick off the first review of the year with NEW LEASE MUSIC staple J.KAS‘ five-track EP ‘Snapchat’.
This hot property from Sheffield continues to dash A WHOLE HEAP of hot pepper sauce in the latest project, by adding his seamless flow to dangerously infectious dance bangers, uptempo and rhythmic after hours hip-hop/R&B.
This one is definitely a keeper; add to your collection for free via Bandcamp.
Must Listens: All Night (Sugah Sugah), Cold Love, Fxck With Me.
Here’s another dish of the day – this time coming from forward-thinking Danish electro-soul artist FJER and her latest single ‘Better’.
With a sound that calls to mind SIA and Banks laced with an upbeat, almost anthemic vibe, the singer/songwriter/producer’s raw emotional overtones mirror the introspective life reflections common to us all: both inclusive and yet isolated.
Produced by the Danish duo Nector, ‘Better’ is an infectious alt R&B-flecked electronica pop gem that slides effortlessly between bassy beats and spacey lulls, showcasing FJER shimmering vocals to perfection.
Accompanying the single is the trippy and glitch-flavored video which sees a shower soaked FJER reflecting on past experiences, knowing that the subject is now looking back and doubting his choices. FJER’s artistic vision is undeniable in this co-directed video with NYC’s Peter Anthony Red.
Ditching her studies at the notable Royal Academy of Music to pursue her dreams in New York City in 2012, FJER has seen early successes ranging from the independent release of two EP’s, ‘A New Start’ (2013) and the conceptual ‘Beautiful Home’ (2014), with early plaudits coming from 2DopeBoyz, YRB Magazine and Okayplayer whilst having key showcases in NYC’s staple BB Kings, Tammany Hall and The Bitter End under her belt.
FJER’s last single ‘Her Turn’ was making the rounds after being selected for Spotify’s Indietronica playlist with ‘Better’ looking to further cement her position within the empowering female-fronted scene. With plans to return in 2017 with her debut album on indie label QUINTIC, we can only anticipate what is next for the Danish powerhouse.
OK peeps, it’s time to put your New Year’s Resolution to the test with single Rise by fiery singer-songwriter LAURRHIE BROUNS.
As you will hear from the four-minute must listen, the Haitian/Dutch powerhouse puts her rich soulful/modern R&B spin on K-Pop (in which she calls EuroKPop), creating a real sugary and spine tingling sensation.
Her K-Pop/Soulful combo hasn’t fallen by the waste side: The 26-year-old performed three times at the huge Arena in Amsterdam for a crowd of 50,000 people at a time and also shared the stage with heavyweights including Emeli Sandé and Bob Marley’s legendary band The Wailers, whilst club touring across Netherlands.
In 2012, the upbeat pop songstress took her talent to new heights and auditioned for The Voice of Holland and instantly became the viewer’s favorite and was dubbed “The discovery” & “The one to watch”.
Now that’s all the credentials over with, it’s time to check out Rise. The single is taken from her EP, Ascension: Golden Seeds of Light, released in November on all major music outlets, including iTunes and Spotify.
10. Down – XamVolo
9. Honey B – Bella Loka
8. Waters Run Deep – Coco (ft. Shola Ama)
7. Not Staying The Same – Big Rain & Trigga Rider
6. Royal Blood – Sound Glyphics
5. Vogue – 3Bubble & J. Gray
4. Don’t Be Shy – Kane
3. Divinity Machine – Crisis Renegade
2. Falls – Awir Leon
10. Hits & Hittaz – Spike Geez
9. A Band On Hope – A Band On Hope
8. Southern Poetry – Patrick Ladon
7. Life’s Got You Riveted – Oloff
6. When The Crows Come Around – Paleface Junkies
Check out the full album here.
5. Pieces of Me – Malynda Hale
4. 3Bubble & J. Gray – Pentagon Memoirs
3. Hall Of Fame – Fameos
2. I Find Myself Here – Antonia Redding
Click here to check out the full album.
New Lease Music 