Following her newly released ‘How To Feel’ single, which received support from Clash Music and BBC 1Xtra, South East London singer/songwriter LAOLU unveiled her music video for the sultry R&B jam.
Shot on location in Paris, and co-directed by LAOLU and searchmike (Rachel Foxx, Sippin Society, Factory311), the four-minute production takes inspiration from Beyonce’s classic ‘My, Myself and I’ video, while still maintaining a minimalist approach, which allows for the powerful record and its lyrics to take centre stage. The visuals also let LAOLU’s personality shine through – a complete opposite to the darker-themed visuals for her previous single ‘All In Me’.
Premiered at BBC Radio 1Xtra by DJ Target as his #UKUnsigned track the highly relatable and meaningful track ‘Paint Me Ugly’ by IYKZ explores the losing battle people face when they don’t share the same perspectives in a relationship.
IYKZ is an upcoming, homegrown talent who has ventured from the grime world over to the rap scene in his older years. He started out in the Channel U days of grime as a 14-year-old emcee and as he has matured in sound, influence and person, he has found rap to be his outlet. He has previously collaborated with Maleek Berry and has over half a million Spotify streams on his previous single ‘They Know (wan mo)’.
The emotional, inspirational and thought-provoking stamp on his music is typical of the themes and rhymes that IYKZ explores. Most recently he has released commercially successful singles like ‘Clarity’ and ‘No Commercial’ gaining attention of J.U.S.T.I.C.E League and BBC 1Xtra whilst singles such as ‘Kilo’ professes greatness for IYKZ.
‘Paint Me Ugly’ is coming from his full-length album entitled ‘Closure’.
Inspired by the iconic cinema moment in Breakfast At Tiffany’s, THINCOEUR teams up with fellow Parisian and rapper Fang The Great on the emotive new video for ‘Farewell’.
Combining Fang The Great’s cold melodies and unique cadence with a melancholic trap instrumental, the track explores love, loss, friendship and loneliness. Born Eliade Krön, THINCOEUR explains that ‘Farewell’ “relates to partings, starting with Fang The Great’s positive outlook when he raps about distance making the heart grow fonder.” Comparatively, the farewell depicted by Krön is towards a lover, where he says he may never return, but he wishes the best for the girl he loves. This bittersweet message of self-preservation is bolstered by Audrey Hepburn’s famous quote from the 1961 film “People don’t belong to people. I’m not gonna let anyone put me in a cage.”
Thinceour
The accompanying video, directed by Randolph Lungela, takes a darker approach, as the protagonist attempts to come to terms with the loss of a loved one. Flicking between past and present, the cold colouring of the current day juxtaposes the heady flashback scenes, tinted in a warm sepia tone, as she turns to alcohol and drugs to cope with her bereavement.
‘Farewell’ is the first taste from forthcoming album that explores the seven facets of love through poignant songwriting and masterful production. In 2017, the artist released ‘Think’, a concept album separated into three acts tracing an emotionally conflicted young man seeking self-acceptance – via dark hip-hop beats and gritty vocals. The new LP ‘7 Layers of Love’, was inspired by cultural influences from cities such as his hometown of Paris, New York and Reykjavik.
Multi-layered and effortless, ‘Farewell’ displays THINCOEUR‘s talent for writing emotional and honest music, fusing elements of hip hop and electronica. Check out the video.
Adding to her rising popularity with bloggers and tastemakers after the success of her last release, ‘Cupid’ – which clocked over a million views on YouTube, BRKE launched her single, ‘Control Me’.
The last few years have been a progressive journey for BRKE, (pronounced Brooke) as she’s curated her sound, an eclectic blend inspired by the London Hip-Hop, Afro-swing and Grime movements, seen and heard in ‘Control Me’. Also influenced by, and echoing late 90’s to early 00’s R&B from the likes of Destiny’s Child (‘Writing’s On The Wall’) and Brandy (‘Full Moon’), her music sits in a distinct pocket, capturing the intricacies of love, sprinkled unapologetically with youthful undertones, as she openly invites you in to her own experiences.
BRKE’s attitude and determination is to never back down from a challenge and has a desire to have her voice heard, or as she puts it, “I just want my story to be heard”. With close to 2 million views on her own YouTube channel coming from just 2 previous singles her stealthy and unwavering approach to her music is unquestionable and clearly having the right effect.
Emerging as an entity not to be overlooked, BRKE has an ability to paint a vivid picture via her lyrics and with her sassy, loveable persona she is relishing the prospect of engaging new audiences, as she aims to become the defining sound of the UK.
With her return to the UK music landscape well and truly underway, following her comeback single ‘All In Me’, South East London singer/songwriter LAOLU is not resting on her laurels, as she drills down with a brand new sultry R&B single titled ‘How To Feel’.
Taken from her forthcoming debut EP All In Me, ‘How To Feel’ sees LAOLU take a slight detour from the darker themes on her previous single, to deliver a sweltering R&B offering, while drawing on the superb moody and atmospheric elements of her music that she introduces on ‘All In Me’, underpinned by her exquisite vocal showing, and honest and relatable songwriting.
‘How To Feel’ is taken from her forthcoming debut EP ‘All In Me’…look out for that…but for now, check out this uber slick production from this promising songbird.
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