Song of the Day: Pin Me Down – FRANSIS

Reminiscent of Wolf Alice and Florence + The Machine, London based alt/indie band FRANSIS‘ single, ‘Pin Me Down,’ was spurred by the tragic murder of Sarah Everard. It tackles a subject which is often difficult to talk about but shared by so many women, that of sexual assault, candidly focusing on the mental strain particularly in the aftermath, and the struggle behind closed doors.

Described as a therapeutic exorcism, Frontman Emma Withers shares, “This song is vulnerable and real, I wanted to focus on the self destruction, the brokenness, the confusion, the anger, and then finally the release which is supported by the music constantly, and as the song intensifies we hit an explosive finale, and an emotional release which was incredibly satisfying to perform in the studio, I did like 8 takes of this to get the raw emotion out of me, this is bonded with the mammoth eruption of epic guitar lines and pure power from the band.”

Despite the serious nature of “Pin Me Down” there is a positive outline, of admittance and then at the end, a collective sense of women standing together. A strong message that no-one should feel alone in their struggle, to let shame keep their burdens as skeletons or be fearful of walking down the street alone at night.

‘Pin Me Down’ is from their new EP, released last Friday (1st July). Listen to ‘Pin Me Down’ below…

Song of the Day: All Night – Falz

Fusing lounge and jazz elements, Nigerian award-winning musician and actor, FALZ’s single ‘All Night’ is a deep percussive house leaning track, with characteristics of Amapiano and a far cry from his usual uptempo cheeky rap sound.

The seductive single is taken Falz’s latest project ‘BAHD’ which demonstrates exactly why the Nigerian superstar is one of the most sought-after artists in Nigeria. From the smooth notes of ‘All Night’ — a track showcasing effortless lyricism across a flawlessly produced beat offering sleek piano keys and moody percussion — to the more up-beat, percussive-leaning ‘Gentleman’. ‘Beautiful Sunflower’ a melodic track featuring Award Winning Musician, Tiwa Savage and jazz infused offering ‘Woman’, featuring Lagos-based duo The Cavemen — Falz serves up twelve beautiful songs, all wonderfully unique in their own way. BAHD further demonstrates Falz’s distinctive style of music.

Falz enters into a completely new dimension with this project, experimenting with rather uncharacteristic sounds.
Falz has established himself as one of Nigeria’s top entertainers through his incredible work as a singer, rapper and actor accompanied with his four award- winning solo albums. He is well decorated with various awards and accolades, some of which include BET Award (2016 Best New International Act), Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (2016 Best Actor in a Comedy) , The Headies (2019 Best Rap Single), Headies 2019 (Album of the Year), The Headies 2021 (Best Rap Single).

Why not watch the official video for ‘All Night’ below…

Song of the Day: Roadtrip – Be Kreative

It’s been a while since artist/producer BEKREATIVE has been in the spotlight…but by no means he’s been sitting idle.

During his time away from the music scene KrBreative, who’s known for dropping R&B and hip-hop slick cuts, has reinvented himself as an artist by experimenting with array of genres, including country music – wow, I didn’t see that coming!

So expect a string of surprises from this guy plus an EP, ‘King of Time’ coming out at some point this year…in the meantime, check out his larger-than-life, trap-infused single, ‘Roadtrip’…

Song of the Day: Overnight – Alamay & Omar Cassius

Bristol-based emerging stars vocalist ALAMAY and OMAR CASSIUS (fka skiimsk) announce their second self-produced EP How tTo Swim, dropping 13th July 2022, and share the heady and soulful single ‘Overnight’. The follow up to their debut release, Aurora, and their lauded Boiler Room debut, ‘Overnight’ is a heart-rending track, with Alamay reflecting candidly on past relationships. A gorgeous, melancholic slice of R&B produced by Omar Cassius, his minimalist percussion, sparse sparkling guitar and brooding bass provide the perfect backdrop for Alamay’s heartfelt vocals.

Gaining an education in Soul and Jazz from an early age, Alamay’s style draws on inspiration from these rich, timeless sounds as well as her Ethiopian heritage. One of Bristol’s most promising new talents, Alamay is bringing a refreshing take on modern R&B/Soul. She first entered the scene in 2019 with her collaborative project with Omar Cassius, Aurora, followed by a track entitled ‘Miirror’ featuring KNWGD in 2020, and made serious waves with her impressive live Boiler Room set, performing alongside deconstructed club titans, Giant Swan and Jabu. Already gaining tastemaker support and a dedicated fan-base, Alamay has laid the foundations for many more impressive projects to come.

Bristol-born artist Omar Cassius (fka skiimsk) entered the scene in 2019 with his collaborative debut EP alongside Alamay titled Aurora. As co-founder of the 1999 platform (a Bristol-based creative collective) he can be found working on multiple other projects – often behind the scenes – with other budding creatives in the city’s buzzing, tight-knit community. To date, most of his creative output and contributions have been his carefully honed, intricate productions. However, How to Swim EP sees the rising artist making his first foray into contributing vocals and bars on releases, with his sights set on further collaborative and solo projects.

Have a listen to the pair’s stunning single below…

Song of the Day: Sunday – High Nelson

Bronx native HIGH NELSON gears for 2022, positioning himself as one to watch in the rap space with his first release of the year ‘Sunday’.

Being a relative of legendary calypsonian musicians, High Nelson’s Trinidadian influence is evident in his afro infused hip hop sound. These roots can be both heard and seen in ‘Sunday’, with Nelson showcasing an all too confident and relaxed delivery, rapping about his womanising ways over an equally laid back and tropical, trap infused instrumental.

Visually, High Nelson is in his element, his nonchalant demeanour and carefree attitude comes through in full force as he’s accompanied by an army of beautiful women in different settings, highlighting the intriguing message of the song which include Nelson’s struggles with women as his vice, and questioning the benefits of monogamy.

Check out the official video for ‘Sunday’ below…