Merittocracy drops track ‘Desire’ ft Jocelyn Brown.

Zimbabwe-born/Scottish-based house/electronic producer Mani S – aka MERITTOCRACY – gets ready to unveil his third single ‘Desire’, featuring the instantly recognisable soulful vocals of legendary singer Jocelyn Brown. The deep soulful house cut is coming out 26th September via his record label, Black Sugar Music.

‘Desire’ is a reworked track that Mani S had previously written and produced with Jocelyn Brown for YOYOHONEY – an electro-soul group he formed with singer Anita Jarrett. Known for her cult classics like, ‘Someone Else’s Guy’ and ‘Always There’, with British acid jazz group Incognito, Jocelyn Brown’s infamous powerhouse vocals inspired Mani S to drop a remix. Drawing from the raw energy of the Chicago House movement, ‘Desire’ now pulses a seriously deep gutsy groove with an infectious electronica edge. “Her timeless vocals and energy got me really excited and I decided to redo and produced it on a different vibe for Merittocracy,” says Mani S.

A songwriter, producer and bass guitarist, Mani S, started is musical journey at the age of just 14, playing at countless shows and was fortunate to work with some of the industry greats such as Bootsy Collins, DJ Pierre, Tony Humphries, and Steely & Cleevie.

Main S’ love for dub, hip-hop and soul led him to form YOYOHONEY, a UK soul project which blends elements of electronica, techno and ambient sounds. Along with Anita Jarrett, Mani S released soulful/acid jazz-tinged singles, ‘Groove On’ in 1991 and ‘Voodoo Soul’ in 1992.

Mani S’ other biggest love is house music, particularly of the deep cut kind; a genre that was with him from the start of his journey. He formed Merittocracy in 2024 to push house and electronic sounds to the forefront – and give them the full attention it deserves. Along with pushing out genres he loves – and not churning out hits for streams and views – Mani S is extremely passionate about music development and has helped shape the creative direction of emerging acts.

Merittocracy’s new single ‘Desire’, featuring the great Jocelyn Brown, drops 26th September via Black Sugar Music.

Connect Merittocracy via:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/merittocracy

Colin Manson releases Debut EP ‘Wayfinding’

Scottish singer-songwriter COLIN MANSON embarks on a deeply personal and immersive musical journey with the release of his Debut EP ‘Wayfinding’, available now on all major streaming platforms . Rooted in the rhythms of the sea and his upbringing on the rugged West coast of Scotland, this four-track collection captures the spirit of adventure, deep reflection and soul searching drawn from Colin’s experiences crossing the world’s oceans in small sailing boats.

With his new single ‘The Water’ alongside three previous singles, Colin has put together a truly beautiful and heartfelt offering, making waves in the indie/folk scene and capturing the attention of many.

Each song in the EP tells a unique story, weaving a rich tapestry of melody and narrative that transports listeners into Colin’s world. From the soft, undulating textures of ‘Sea Son’ to the raw, percussive rhythms of ‘These Words’, Colin demonstrates the depth of his musical expression, painting vivid soundscapes inspired by his time at sea. Why not listen to ‘Wayfinding’ below…

Must Listens: Where We Started, Sea Son

Follow Colin Manson via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/colinmansn
IG: https://www.instagram.com/colinmansn

Source: Colin Manson

Song of the Day: Sea Son – Colin Manson

Scottish singer-songwriter COLIN MANSON‘s latest offering, ‘Sea Son’, is a powerful indie-folk ballad that is so compelling from the very first note.

A thoughtful lyricist and contemplative songwriter, Colin’s unique ocean sailing experience shines through in this heartfelt single. Each line from Colin’s thought-provoking lyrics takes the listener on a journey of self-reflection, making them linger over each line, savouring every moment of this captivating track.

Tasteful guitar melodies are accompanied by warm bowed double bass and enhanced further with ethereal female vocal harmonies, by fellow singer-songwriter Billie Maree, throughout the song. His subtle but powerful voice is carried by delicate instrumentation and simple drum beats which highlight the mellow vibe of this beautiful track.

On this song, Colin works with Chris Bond, platinum award winning producer and instrumentalist, who is featured on the drums. Have a listen to the stunning single…

Song of the Day: Boyfriend – Tallia Storm

Housing previous support from DJ’s at BBC 1Xtra, BBC Introducing and Capital Xtra, 23-year-old TALLIA STORM‘s unapologetic new single ‘Boyfriend,’ is a masterclass in R&B-pop melodies, with a blinding bass-line and undulating infectious beat, that is reminiscent of classic 00s R&B. The lyrics are a poignant journey of trouble in young love over an immaculate Ray Michael Jnr production that fuses early 00s R&B, complete with electric guitar figures and trap flavours. With an ethos of self-confidence, saying the things we’re afraid to feel and being a champion of women in music, Tallia is poised to take the world by storm as she continues to chase the fast lane in the UK music scene.

Over the past year Tallia Storm has been working hard at placing herself as household rising star in the UK after being co-signed by Nile Rodgers and spent the start of the year working and writing with the Chic legend himself at the world famous Abbey Road Studios. Best known for being discovered by Sir Elton John at the tender age of 13 years old, 10 years on, Tallia Storm is still fighting to be heard as an independent female made in Scotland, with her fearless attitude and infectious confidence.

Tallia has graced the big screen from starring on E4’s Celebs Go Dating & ITVBe’s Real Housewives of Jersey as well as being one of the UK’s biggest celebrity TikTok’s. Tallia sees herself as an all-round entertainer which has allowed her personality to shine on TikTok which sees her have a 650,000 strong fan base hitting over 250 million views and 23 million likes on the app.

This is the first track of Tallia’s new era that is ready to be released single by single. Tallia has found her storm and is ready to be heard! Have a listen to ‘Boyfriend’ below…

Song of the Day: Flossed Up – MC Salum x Nova

Continuing his run of exceptional collaborations, MC Salum’s latest single ‘Flossed Up’ features Nova, the winner of Scottish Album of the Year in 2020, and DJ Mag’s Best of British ‘Breakthrough MC’ award. 2022 has seen MC Salum on a roll of versatile singles after his debut album ‘Crocodile DD’ in December, including Bambooz Me feat. Nayme and We Talkin’ feat. Jazz.

Flossed Up uses an edgy, experimental beat from producer Jack Dean, showcasing the two rapper’s ability to work with any rhythm, showing off their versatile nature.

Dundee born, MC Salum encapsulates all things that make a modern artist; MC, producer, rapper, collaborator, and visionary. His sound is laden with a variety of influences, the future of music which has learnt so much from the past. His infectious character draws people to him with each release, asserting a youthful presence in the Scottish scene. He collaborates closely with his good friends and his talent for scouting guest vocalists makes each track fresh and exciting. Together they have fused a sound of R&B with alternative hip hop, all under the umbrella of alternative pop.

Sitting amongst artists like Little Simz, Ghetts and ENNY, Nova won the award for Breakthrough MC/Vocalist in the DJ Mag Best of British Awards in December 2021.

Flirting with drill, rap and RnB sounds, Nova brings a high energy performance to every beat she steps on. Known for her feisty lyrics and stunning performances, she is a multi-award-winning rap artist and singer unafraid to challenge stereotypes as she experiments to create tracks with an independent sound.

Her hard rap debut album ‘Re-Up’ earned her the title of the youngest ever winner of the Scottish Album of the Year Award in 2020. Since then she has released the softer EP ‘WWND’ before turning her focus to writing and releasing singles.

Have a listen to ‘Flossed Up’ below…