Song of the Day: Regarding My Heart – Tuelo

Very rarely does a song give me full body chills everytime I hear TUELO‘s powerful single, ‘Regarding My Heart’. The track is the centerpiece and the focus track for the album Regarding My Heart, due out 27th September.

Tuelo is a South African-born, NYC/Dublin-based folk-rock artist who’s had some amazing notoriety in the past for her debut album, but one listen to the new music and it’s clear that is her most refined, self-assured sound to date. Regarding My Heart is a sweeping sonic exploration of love, loss and loneliness. The project has provided Tuelo with the space to heal, listen to herself and center her voice.

The whole album began with the title track. Describing it, Tuelo says, “The song shows that in a ubiquitous world there lives a person in solitude, with a fascination for adventure, fantasy, and big dreams of great love. That is me. That would be ‘Regarding My Heart.’ That might be you.” Beginning with one central song and building the album from there, Tuelo crafted a resonant glimpse into her heart from different perspectives. Tuelo says the album is, “by the lonely for the lonely. It’s about holding on to every ounce of peace, patience, pace, and the rhythm of the world.”

Interspersed between the tracks are chant versions and towards the end, piano versions that offer alternate takes on the original versions while paying homage to Tuelo’s roots. Across three continents, the project’s expansive sound was brought to life with help from multi-GRAMMY® award-winning producer (Album of the Year, Best Rock Album) Robbie Nelson, guitar producer Kirk Schoenherr, longtime collaborator Kevin Wenzel and features backing vocals from Tuelo’s sisters. W

Watch the video for ‘Regarding My Heart’ below…

Asa unveils visual for single, ‘ODO’, an ode for genuine companionship

Internationally celebrated, multi-platinum Nigerian music artist ASA released her latest, soul-stirring single ‘ODO’ (out now via Platoon), alongside must-see visual.

Building on the heartfelt song’s ode to the essence of genuine connection, transcending material pursuits and echoing the universal desire for meaningful love and companionship, the ethereal clip directed by Andy Madjitey and shot across Ghana is a beautiful and diverse depiction of love in its purest, myriad forms.

Written and composed by Asa, with production from P.Priime,’ODO’ is Inspired by Asa’s own experiences and observations, with the song’s lyrics painting a vivid picture of someone who values the intangible aspects of a relationship. The simplicity of ‘ODO’ combined with Asa’s soulful and emotive delivery creates a stirring, timeless piece that speaks directly to the human soul.

Speaking on ‘ODO’ Asa says: “’ODO’ is a tribute to love, beyond only romance. Friends and family lift you up when you’re down and heartbroken, celebrate your victories and cheer you on when you doubt yourself. It’s a reminder that love comes in various forms, and always having your back.”

In 2022, Asa released her fifth studio album ‘V’ which saw her taking cues from Pop, Afrobeat, R&B, Soul and electronic influences and mixing them with breathy, soulful vocals to create dreamy, ethereal soundscapes and embracing a newfound freedom which is demonstrated across the 10-track project. Produced by P.Priime, the album featured the singles ‘Mayana’ and ‘Ocean’ – and their dreamy music visuals – and collaborations with Wizkid, Amaarae and The Cavemen. The project received critical acclaim from music lovers and credible media outlets around the world including Rolling Stone, Billboard and The NY Times to name just a few.

Watch the breathtaking video for ‘ODO’ below…

Kaitlyn Eve transports us to the early days of romance with stunning ballad, ‘Before Goodbyes’

New York City-based singer-songwriter KAITLYN EVE‘s new single, ‘Before Goodbyes’ brings to life wanting to live in the moment between early romance and falling in love.

The acoustic guitar driven, the indie-pop ballad weaves a bittersweet tale with ethereal piano, romantic cello, and intimate harmonies. The track’s stunning arrangements and emotive lyrics take on a dreamlike state, transporting listeners to the intoxicating early days of romance and inviting us to cherish those fleeting moments of pure, unguarded connection.

Kaitlyn Eve is inspired by artists from all eras, from Carole King and Billy Joel to Sarah Bareilles, Alessia Cara, and Billie Eilish. This mix of pop, rock and soul has influenced her own music. She is especially inspired by the storytelling songwriters craft into their songs and how music has the magic that transports to a specific place and moment in time. When the pandemic shut the world and live music down, she took advantage of the time to develop her sound and purpose as an artist, telling stories of love and heartbreak. Kaitlyn believes there is nothing that can connect and bring people together the way music can.

‘Before Goodbyes’ was released yesterday (19th January) across multiple music platforms. Have a listen to the stunning ballad below…

Song of the Day: How Long – Grete

Following on from first single ‘With u’, a romantic, emotional ballad, singer-songwriter GRETE progresses into a darker, more twisted space with latest single, ‘How Long’ . This is created by dissonant chords, biting and distorted guitar leads and a crescendo towards the end of the track laced with heavy drums, rhythmic bass and Grete’s soaring vocals. The track is punctuated with glitchy details and electronic sparkles, complimenting the instruments and contributing to the cosmic scale of the song.

The song lyrically encompasses the feeling of being stuck behind a wall put up by the other person in a relationship, and painting a fantasy of what could be if the wall was broken down, instead of turning around and walking away. Throughout the song, the anger and tension is growing, culminating in a
release at the very end of the track – eventual acceptance.

Grete was born and raised in a little Eastern-European country called Lithuania and started singing when she was only three years old. She began her young artist and performer career in small ensembles and bands and was quickly spotted and drawn to the biggest stages in the country, such as tv competitions, musical theatre, international concerts and contests, and even the finals of The Voice of Lithuania. Grete chose to leave Lithuania and start fresh in the UK. Now she is studying pop music vocals in RNCM. Influenced by artists like Jazmine Sullivan, The Weeknd and Yebba, she began writing vocally colourful and harmonically intricate songs with strong messages and old R&B references.

‘How Long’ is the second of three singles planned for release prior to the release of her debut EP. Have a listen below…

Watch Lilith Merlot’s video for single, ‘Easier To Fight’

Singer-songwriter LILITH MERLOT shares the live music video for her single ‘Easier To Fight’. The single is taken from her EP, Shades Of Blue, out now.

‘Easier To Fight’, as a song, is timeless and heartfelt. Merlot’s vocals are encapsulating and soulful, oozing an incredible emotion over the subtle instrumental of Wurlitzer keys and cello. Topically exploring the themes we all feel when stuck in a relationship, it’s an emotionally charged ballad with an incredible message.

The music video is no different. With the audio being a completely fresh and live rendition of the track, it features Merlot shimmering atop an imposing man-made structure as she delivers her sublime vocals with a raw yet gentle delivery befitting of the video and the song. It is slow paced, with incredible panning and shots, putting Merlot at the forefront while the Wurlitzer and cello are performed live alongside her. With the sky bursting with colorful hues amidst a glistening crescent moon in the background, the cinematography is nothing short of epic, a perfect fit for an anthemic love ballad.

Known for her timeless voice, Dutch singer and songwriter Lilith Merlot has been enchanted by harmony and melody from a young age. During her Jazz vocals studies at the Rotterdam Conservatory, Lilith performed in front of American singer Renée Neufville (known for her work with Roy Hargrove, RH Factor), who remarked: “Your voice is just like a Merlot; it’s so warm, deep, and round”. This inspired Lilith to use Merlot as her stage name. Since releasing her debut EP in 2017, Lilith has been experimenting with various genres, from Jazz to Pop and Soul, influenced by Lizz Wright, Jeff Buckley, and Norah Jones, to name a few, creating music reminiscent of Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, and Madeleine Peyroux.

With nearly 5 million streams across platforms and support from tastemakers METAL Magazine, her music has aired across a number of stations under the established Netherlands public broadcaster NPO, earning spins on NPO Soul & Jazz, where she has previously featured as a guest speaker, and NPO 3FM Radio. In the past, she has performed live on the Roodshow on NPO Radio 2, NPO Radio 5, NPO Radio 1. Not to mention airing on Sublime FM. While on Spotify, her music has landed on the editorial playlist Sad Covers.

Watch for video for ‘Easier To Fight’ below…