Song of the Day: Meet Me In London – ily tgb

London- based artist ILY TBG‘s latest track, ‘Meet Me in London’, is considered his most formidable piece to date.

Not only does the Portuguese-born rapper and producer advance his own style significantly, but he also makes significant strides ahead of the scene. He does this by fusing afrobeat’s irresistible sounds with a vivid pop aesthetic that creates an allure full of impact. The singer-songwriter and producer also hits the ground running from the first second with an earworm encounter that you will find difficult to match anywhere else.

‘Meet Me in London’ is full of life and vitality, with the vast array of sounds and styles that’s on full display. ily tbg, who finds inspiration in the greats such as Ludacris and Justin Timberlake, incorporates his own creative energy into the mix while taking subtle cues from the finest in the game.

So are you ready for something completely fresh? Good. Now hit that play button on ‘Meet Me in London’ below…

Song of the Day: Foolish – Rogues

A warm glow of the eighties-style synth, introduces Australian indie pop/new wave duo ROGUES‘ latest single, ‘Foolish’ which is, perfectly complimented by a vocal performance that’s reminiscent of Clark Datchler from eighties pop/new wave group, Johnny Hates Jazz.

Perth act Rogues have hit the ground running on the Australian music scene and are promising bigger and better things going forward, as they take their craft to new and exciting heights. After meeting in high-school, the duo joined forces in 2016 with their collective vision of redefining the modular sounds of eighties synth for a new age more fragmented and discerning than ever before. It was a union as unholy as it was unlikely, aligning two creative minds from distant cultures and musical backgrounds far beyond the Perth city-limits. For two Perth grown mates, born in Colombia (drummer / keyboardist Cristian Galindo) and Scotland (guitarist / vocalist Graeme White), there was never a clear prototype to emulate, which ushered the band in a direction they could only carve out for themselves.

The band’s 2017 debut effort (Double Vision EP) saw them establish a synth-laden indie take on arena rock, reimagining the approaches from spearheads like Tears for Fears and The Killers. 2023 takes a more contemporary turn for Rogues, with the band trading their 80s aesthetic for a slicker indie pop sound in their upcoming debut album, ‘Home In The Abyss’. Their latest vision abounds with memorable hooks in the vein of Dua Lipa, the lyrical strangeness and slight dissonance of Gorillaz, moody textures of Joji, and cohabited synth and guitar space expected from the likes of Phoenix. The upcoming 12-track album was fully self-produced and engineered, allowing meticulous attention to detail and full artistic control by the duo. The release, which is
set for the first half of 2023, will be preceded by a string of singles, each showcasing versatility and exemplifying the band’s undeniable ability for delivering epic soundscapes and anthemic vocals.

Rogues are a band to watch out for this year. Keep up to date with their upcoming releases, shows and news by following them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Check out their latest single, ‘Foolish’ below’…

Song of the Day: Just Another Day: Asher Kosher (ft. Manik MC & C.REM)

North London rapper ASHER KOSHER – founding member of both the Hackney-based Root 73 studio and acclaimed multi-artist label platform, The Silhouettes Project – returns with the fourth single to be lifted from his forthcoming, as-yet-unannounced new project.

Following opening singles ‘On Our Street’ ft. Bel Cobain, ‘Focus’ featuring Eerf Evil and the biting social commentary of ‘Mug’, ‘Just Another Day’ turns the next page in Kosher’s lyric book. Joining forces with friend, long-term collaborator and COLORS alumni, Manik MC, as well as C.REM, ‘Just Another Day’ paints an unfiltered picture of inner-city life; the grind, the pressure, the vices, but also the friendships forged along the way.

Released alongside a self-directed official video shot across greying London streets – interspersed with shots of Kosher, Manik MC and C-REM enjoying a game of pool in a soft-lit local pub – ‘Just Another Day’ adds more fabric to the patchwork Kosher continues to weave, as he moves closer to announcing his new full-length project.

Raised on a diet of A Tribe Called Quest, Tu-Pac, Eminem and later, UK rappers like Dizzee Rascal, Sway and Choong Family – as well as Benjamin Zephaniah’s 2004 book, ‘Gangsta Rap’ – Kosher’s love of lyricism runs deep.

After spending years honing his craft – including supporting hip-hop royalty in The Pharcyde and KRS1, as well as legendary UK rapper, K Koke during his early twenties – ‘Just Another Day’ lands as another entry point to the evolution of Asher Kosher; rapper, thinker and pillar of his community.

Song of the Day: A Good Life – Marie Dahlstrom

Ahead of the release of her second album ‘A Good Life’, Danish/London based musician, producer and vocalist MARIE DAHLSTROM shares its title track ‘A Good Life’. The new album will feature collaborations with acts including Kofi Stone, Jay Prince, Conor Albert, Delleile Ankrah and Sipprell.

Produced by south London producer and Young Poet/Ninja Tune signee Conor Albert, the single ‘A Good Life’ exudes blissful positivity. Accompanied by warbling keys, soulful guitar passages and uplifting brass sections, ‘A Good Life’ was written as an ode to Marie’s son and explores the wonders of the world from a child’s eyes.

Speaking more on its inspiration and lyrical meaning, Marie Dahlstrom said: 

“A Good Life is a song about the wonders of everyday life, if we choose to stay curious. These moments will eventually be what we remember, and become a part of our story. This song is for my son, and everything he’s already taught me.”

Marie Dahlstrom is supported and praised widely at press by the likes of Billboard, NPR, Complex, The Line Of Best Fit, Mixtape Madness, NYLON, New Wave Magazine, Wonderland Magazine and more, as well as being listed as a ‘Sleeper Pick’ by Joe Budden (twice) on TheJoe Budden Podcast (the most influential podcast in R&B and hip-hop globally). Marie Dahlstrom has also received substantial radio airplay from BBC 1Xtra DJ’s Jamz Supernova, DJ Target, Toddla T and Rinse FM’s Jyoty.

Marie Dahlstrom’s new album ‘A Good Life’ is out 22nd May via her label, JFH Records. Have a listen to the soothing single, ‘A Good Life’ below…

Song of the Day: Nubian Farlow – Varnish La Piscine

VARNISH LA PISCINE‘s jazz-inflected new single ‘Nubian Farlow’, oozes a lush, sprawling instrumentation, where the young artist glides between smooth bars and vocals in this breezy introduction to the world of Varnish La Piscine.

As visually compelling a storyteller as he is sonically, the release of ‘Nubian Farlow’ is accompanied by a hypnotic visualiser focusing on a chef filleting a bowl of fish. The playful shot is taken from Varnish’s self-directed 4-part short film which is being released episodically in the lead up to his EP release this March.

Both an audio-visual and musical work, the four episodes are inspired by the absurd humour of the Coen brothers and the stylised intricacy of Wes Anderson and were shot over 8 days at a lakeside location with the help of the production company Dissidence. The plot revolves around the lake and its magical fish who, for better or worse, entrance the local population with Varnish himself playing the role of a young fisherman (as well as many other actors, including new-gen French rapper Rounhaa).

‘Nubian Farlow’ is joined on This Lake Is Successful by recent release ‘Ring Island’, with the 7-track project comprised of a form of refined pop made up of diverse influences: rap, bossa nova, electronic synth, surf music, reggae and underpinned by Varnish’s singing and rapping as well as three guest artists Makala, Rico TK and Snubnose Frankenstein.

In the six years since the rapper, producer and singer arrived on the scene, Varnish La Piscine (Jephté Mbisi) has crafted a brilliantly creative universe inspired by his love of the iconic rappers and producers of the 2000s and the decade’s swirling, colourful music videos. Growing up in Switzerland surrounded by a family of music lovers, the music at home swung between his parents’ Congolese beats alongside 90’s greats like Sade, Sting and Phil Collins. But it was his love of the 2000s that made Varnish the artist he is today. Admiration for his first musical hero Pharrell Williams imbued in him the importance of combining creative genius with visual flair and that to create something interesting, you need to be different.

With props from the likes of Tyler the Creator and Pharrell Williams himself; the future looks bright for Varnish La Piscine…have a listen to Nubian Farlow below…