Song of the Day: Acapulco – The Sometimes Island

THE SOMETIMES ISLAND are a synth-forward pop band based in Los Angeles and Albuquerque. The exciting and highly visual live band is comprised of charismatic frontman Matt Blankenship Jr and anchored by drummer Nick Lopiano.

Their single, ‘Acapulco’ explores the excitement of beginning a new chapter of life, yet the contrasting sentiment that comes with it. Blankenship Jr states, “I wrote the song Acapulco to capture that listless ennui I was trapped under in Los Angeles, framing it with a fantasy of an ignored lover reaching their breaking point, leaving and abruptly buying a plane ticket.” The narrative almost ironically pairs with a dream-pop backing, harmonic rhythms, John Mayer inspired guitar riff and a truly contagious chemistry.

The accompanying cinematic music video for ‘Acapulco’ mirrors the song’s story, as we witness the demise of a relationship, where one party decides to flee and head for a better, more wholesome life.

Their forms of expression and musical ingenuity make The Sometimes Island ones to watch this year. With their previous EP Beverly & Barbara peaking at #2 internationally on Apple’s Alternative chart, rocketing past even the likes of Billie Eilish, the duo have also amounted over 800,000 monthly listeners, with streaming numbers in the millions. The Sometimes Island are becoming true pioneers of pop as we know it.

Have a peep at the official video below…

Jaydonclovers Shares Lyric Video For New Melodic Single, ‘But My Sister’

Birmingham’s best kept secret JAYDONCLOVER graces the blog with a lyric video for her new single, ‘but my sister’, produced by long-time collaborator and fellow 0121 resident dylantheinfamous, and with a guest feature from Bel Cobain.

Blending R&B with lo-fi hip hop, ‘but my sister’ is a hazy summer song that evokes a perfumed boudoir, where Jaydon’s sisters attempt to dissuade her from lovers that they feel are beneath her, despite her insistence that looks aren’t everything. In her own words:

“Oftentimes I run my crushes past my sisters because I know they’ll always be honest, but most times they’re a little too honest! ‘but my sister’ is about the relationships I, and many others have with their sisters; we all just want the best for each other and if it’s not the best we will let you know. After having those sisterly chats with Bel over wine and cocktails, I knew she was the sister for this feature.”

Jaydon has previously collaborated with the likes of BXKS, Jadu Jadu, phil, Black Josh & Danny Sanchez, and supported by the likes of Clash, DIY, Dummy, Trench, BBC Radio 1Xtra and KCRW.

Have a singalong to ‘but my sister’ below…

OUT TODAY: Listen To Charlie Houston’s Single, ‘Dinosaurs In The Garden.’

The 22-year-old singer-songwriter, CHARLIE HOUSTON is following her Spotify USA Viral 50 track, ‘Wide Awake’, which she recorded with the Grammy-nominated electronic duo, ODESZA with her new single, ‘Dinosaurs In The Garden’ – out today via Arts & Crafts.

Speaking about the new single which finds Charlie tapping into a more grunge-pop sound, she says: “‘Dinosaurs In The Garden’ is about the fear of getting your heart broken while in a relationship. While you have no reason to suspect it’s going to happen, there is always looming anxiety about the fact that you’ve allowed yourself to fall for someone and now can’t control whether it works out or not.”

Houston, whose “contemporary R&B-inflected pop straightforwardly addresses the meaningful mundanities of Gen Z life” (Bandcamp) is following her 2021 genre-bending debut five-song EP, I Hate Spring which received praise from Zane Lowe, Rolling Stone, and SPIN, while landing a Spotify Times Square Billboard. As she prepares the release of her second EP, due out later this year, she will be joining ODESZA on their mammoth stadium tour which commences tomorrow (29th July), as well as concluding her cross-Canada support tour with JUNO Award 2022 Artist Of The Year, Charlotte Cardin.

Have a listen to the infectious ‘Dinosaurs In The Garden’ below…

Song of the Day – Let Me Down – FLVME

Johannesburg based, South African Hip Hop artist FLVME is gearing-up for the release of his upcoming album Germander II, and ‘Let Me Down’ is the first single released from the upcoming project (via Platoon).

FLVME (pronounced: flame) is one of South Africa’s hottest rising Hip Hop artists who has released chart-topping albums, from 2019’s now-certified Gold Germander to 2020’a D.O.A (Dead Or Alive) and 2021’s While You Wait.

‘Let Me Down’ is his first release of 2022 and is a song about reflecting on past relationships and how helped shape who he is. “Accepting everything for what it is and understanding that I have to go through a lot in order to grow .. overall it’s just about finding peace within myself,” he says. Check it out below…

Song of the Day: Smoke Castles – Amy Steele

With sultry vocals and a distinctive tone, London based Singer Songwriter AMY STEELE presents her latest single, ‘Smoke Castles’, a mix Kate Bush and Sade with alternative tapestries of soul.

‘Smoke Castles’ is about the distance created between two people when the foundations they built, were not strong enough to sustain the weight of the relationship. It’s about a lack of clarity in communication, and the discomfort of uncertainty that brings. As Amy sings out: ‘Speaking smoke, you’re so unclear, white ribbons have tied up the air.’

With Amy recently signing a deal with EMPIRE, this is set to be an exciting new chapter for the young starlet. Have a listen to her below…