Austin Jay’s eponymous EP, is an explosive fusion of pop, hip-hop, trap and rock

A rock and trap-indebted singer-songwriter with the charm and bearing of a modern pop star, AUSTIN JAY is in many ways Los Angeles’s best-kept secret. Building on the success of previous singles, ‘Loving on You’ and ‘Things You’ll Never Know,’ he returns with his highly-anticipated self-titled debut EP, Austin Jay, out now across platforms.

Crafted with renowned producers Caleb Hulin (Avril Lavigne, Demi Lovato) and T Black (Hip Hop Atlanta, Marques Houston, and Pitbull), the EP fuses alternative pop/punk soundscapes with cutting-edge trap elements, showcasing the next evolution of Austin’s sound. He adds, “The EP is about not conforming to what society says you have to be and creating your own lane in life.”

The EP’s focus track, ‘Demented,’ blends captivating guitar stabs with Austin’s powerful vocals to provide a commentary on the heartlessness of modern relationships.

“‘Demented’ set the tone for the entire EP,” shares Austin. “It was the first song I worked on with my incredibly talented producer Caleb Hulin, and we connected right away, making the song in our very first session. It’s the song that really established and cemented my sound moving forward, with its mix of alternative pop/punk and modern trap music. I wrote it coming from a place of angst. I think modern-day romantic relationships are too casual, you know? I’m not a casual person. I’m a romantic at heart, and I miss the old-fashioned, dramatic, infatuated romance from old books and movies I love. Demented is about my problems with casual relationships and how so many people today are afraid or unwilling to truly commit and call it love.”

LA-based/Manhattan-born singer/rapper Austin Jay unapologetically combines 2000s Pop/Punk with modern Trap music. After going viral with covers of Khalid’s “Location” and Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes,” Austin Jay has developed an 80k+ following on Instagram with his first original three single releases amassing over 350,000 streams on Spotify. He is also a dynamic live presence, earning a fanbase as the lead singer of the widely acclaimed band ‘Earth to Mars’ and touring nationally with his own band.

Austin Jay’s self-titled EP was released last Friday (9th June) across various music platforms. Have a listen below…

Must Listens: Fuck Ur Apology, Things You’ll Never Know, Hands Up.

Emerging Rap Rock artist Rex Arcum teams up with Syano for genre bending EP ‘COMPOUND’

After setting Ireland’s underground alight with their eclectic fusion of hip-hop and rock, Cork’s REX ARCUM and SYANO release their joint effort EP ‘COMPOUND’ on June 2nd. Having been featured on Spotify’s Misfits 2.0, RTÉ and Nialler 9 with the EP’s lead single ‘LOTTO BOY’, the pair of rising artists are certainly ones to watch from the Emerald Isle.

The EP mirrors Rex Arcum and Syano’s live shows, driven by creative hip-hop samples and monstrous 808’s which are seamlessly blended with distorted guitar, gritty drums and powerful vocals. With tracks
featuring Nashville’s MNERVA, Brampton’s Spitty, Cork’s LG4 Ness and mixed/mastered by Brody (Nothing, Nowhere., Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Freddie Dredd), this genre defiant EP expels unfiltered frustration and emotion as it tackles a host of negative aspects seen in society in Ireland.

Having kicked off 2023 with a sold-out headline gig in Fred Zeppelin’s Cork, as well as performing at a packed out Cork Rising in Cyprus Avenue and Absent Hip-Hop Night in Galway, Rex Arcum is touring Ireland in September with major support acts to be announced, it will be an explosive tour that’s not to be missed.

‘COMPOUND’ was released on 2nd June…have a listen to the explosive EP below…

Must Listens: CLIQUE, TOO BAD

Jordan Duffy Shares Her Inspirational Pop Rock Anthem, ‘Wonder Woman’.

Pop/rock artist and four octave range goddess JORDAN DUFFY‘s brand new single, ‘Wonder Woman’, is all about taking back your power, and realizing you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to in life. Jordan confides, “Everyone puts on their own armor to face the world and at the end of a long day this is the perfect song to throw on and dance your heart out to.”

Originally from Massachusetts, the Los-Angeles based powerhouse is known for her fun and important musical releases touching upon subjects including heart break, female empowerment, exploding toads, one night stands, and zombie lovers. At 18 years old, her first professional show was opening for The Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickie Betts. It was in college when she discovered her four octave range while studying and performing Opera. She continued her education and landed her role as the first female audio engineer at Earwolf/Stitcher Podcasts. There she has had the opportunity to sing to Weird Al Yankovic, do her own rendition of ‘Total Eclipse of the Fart’ on ‘The Office Ladies’, and is the vocalist for the “Just Between Us” Podcast theme song.

An upbeat pop rock anthem that will sure boost your mood, ‘Wonder Woman’ was released last Thursday (30th March). Have a listen below…

Listen To CHVRLI BLVCK’s Beautifully Raw Single, ‘Why Did You Go?’

London-born singer-songwriter CHVRLI BLVCK‘s new single ‘Why Did You Go?’ is a poignant and deeply personal account of the aftermath of a breakup. The single blends simple acoustic guitar with layered vocals and retro-inspired synths to create a hauntingly beautiful soundscape, which rises and falls in harmony with the emotional journey it imparts.

Known for his vocal prowess and emotionally raw style, CHVRLI BLVCK reflects his personal struggles with mental health, with an eclectic but immediately recognisable sound, influenced by artists such as Jeff Buckley, The Maccabees, and Fiona Apple.

He began releasing music in mid-2022 and has quickly developed a dedicated online following, with over a quarter of a million streams, positive reviews, podcast interviews, and regular airplay on independent radio stations. He has also entered the live arena with some success performing small shows, and is fast becoming a fixture of the local scene.

‘Why Did You Go?’ was released last Friday (3rd March). Have a listening his stunning single below…

Song of the Day: Shell – Ritual Cloak

Following on from their second album (Divine Invasions), collaborations with Welsh poet Autumn Juvenile and Polish Artist Michal Iwanowski, plus an R.E.M cover, Daniel Barnett and drummer/producer Andrew Sanders -aka electronic postrock duo RITUAL CLOAK – present their single, ‘Shell’ which is about being in a dream where you’re constantly searching for someone but never quite finding them.

It’s an idea that’s been floating around for a few years and gone through a number of different versions before becoming what it is now. Originally Shell was written for acoustic guitar and had a completely different feel. Dan remembers re-listening to Metals by Feist and being inspired by the dramatic intimacy of the album, leading to Shell being rewritten for piano. When the song was brought to the studio Sanders suggested taking the vocals outside of the usual comfort zone.

The inspiration for this method of production was taken from Bon Iver and Mogwai, experimenting with vocoder and the deliberate use of autotune for the first time. As a result the song entered new musical territories, and served as a reminder to ourselves that there are no rules in what we do. Have a listen below…