Song of the Day: Pulling Me Closer – Aeris Roves

‘Pulling Me Closer’ marks the first single of 2022 from London based, singer, songwriter, poet and producer – AERIS ROVES . It follows on from 2021 records ‘Cairo’ and ‘Long Way Down’ which were well received after a 2 year hiatus.

Whilst ‘Cairo’ was about finding the gold in someone and ‘Long Way Down’ looked at the breakdown in communication during a relationship and the process of realigning with a partner – ‘Pulling Me Closer’ explores initial attraction and it’s unexpected intensity.

Speaking in more detail, Aeris reiterates “Pulling me closer – A song that started off as an unfinished acoustic idea on Instagram. It was shared by Billie Eilish. A trip to Los Angeles with Two Inch Punch offered the inspiration needed to finish the production. Thematically, it explores a situation of initial attraction, in that it’s unexpected and intense, pondering the fact that once it takes hold, it is very difficult to let go of.”

With influences deeply rooted in soul and modern R&B Aeris draws influence from The Drifters, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Majid Jordan and more. Growing up, Aeris would sing in local choirs gradually teaching himself guitar in his bedroom as an accompaniment.

His first commercial offering came in the form of a self-produced 2018 Soundcloud release, ‘Banks.’ The track garnered an initial buzz in the UK, quickly extending across the Atlantic where it was championed by US pop sensation Billie Eilish – She in turn invited him to support her on her European tour.

A successful run followed, cutting his live teeth and landing him a record deal with RCA where he released his debut LP ‘Moon By Island Gardens’ to much critical acclaim.

In 2020, with new label and management in tow, Aeris used lockdown to return to the studio to delve into a new body of work.

Stay tuned for the release of more singles from this guy…until then, have a listen to ‘Pulling Me Closer.’

Song of the Day: Pushin’ – Shaé Universe

Nigerian-British artist SHÀE UNIVERSE‘s exhilarating single ‘Pushin’, is a unique synergy of R&B and Drill, where Shae’s silky vocals blends in with delicate riffs, simmering 808’s and soaring synth patterns.

Speaking on the single, Shaé said: “Pushin’ was written with ease. It flowed so naturally because it was a subconscious premonition of certain relationships that would come to an end in my life. I didn’t know it at the time I wrote the song but soon enough I saw the coherence manifest in my life. Cheers to honouring your boundaries and dropping dead weight!”

Since bursting onto the scene in 2017, Shaé has made waves in the UK, West Africa and beyond, attracting heat from the likes of Wonderland, TRENCH, NOTION, New Wave Mag and more. Shaé makes music that engages, enchants and inspires. Shaé is an artist who can both sing and rap, has been co-signed by the likes of Kojey Radical, Ms Banks and Etta Bond, and has remained entirely independent – navigating the industry on her own terms.

Stay tuned for more this year from this blossoming R&B talent…but for now, have a listen to ‘Pushin’ below…

Song of the Day: Every Time I See the Ocean – Cassie Marin

Infusing harmonic electro-pop beats with ethereal R&B vocals, CASSIE MARLIN’s ‘Every Time I See The Ocean’ is an evocative and captivating listen. Confronting the malaise of alienation, Cassie opens her heart to anyone who has ever felt misunderstood. It’s a song about searching for acceptance in a world where people expect you to remain the same, finding comfort in change, and finding strength in the solitude and pain.

The title of the track — ‘Every Time I See The Ocean’ — is an ode to Cassie’s upbringing near the beach. Expanding on this, she says, “I didn’t have anyone to play with as a child, but somehow the ocean had a presence so strong I forgot about my feelings of loneliness when I would swim in it. I remember daydreaming underwater and using my imagination in ways that felt so close to magic. I felt I metamorphosed in there. To this day I really do change drastically when I visit the ocean, it’s like taking a vitamin that induces me to refresh and be deeply honest with myself. This song is that to me, a dip into an underwater daydream.“

Arriving on the heels of ‘Tanto’ and ‘Busy Body,’ ‘Every Time I See The Ocean’ is the newest glimpse of what to expect from Cassie’s forthcoming 2022 album. With these new songs, Cassie takes a propulsive leap with her songwriting, opening up about her most private battles and innermost thoughts. Instead of succumbing to self-indulgence and pity, she wields her hardships as a portal to empower and transform. “I started pursuing music as a career because of what music did and still does for me; it saves me every day,” she says. “I want my music to be there for anyone and everyone who needs it the way that music was there for me.”

Have a listen to ‘Every Time I See The Ocean’ below..

Song of the Day: Palo Santo – Saint Joshua

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Frank Ocean, Solange and D’Angelo, SAINT JOSHUA‘s second single from his second EP, ‘Palo Santo’ brings an exciting soulful, rhythmic and cinematic sound immersed in rich harmonies.

A multi-layered track, ‘Palo Santo’ is innuendo filled covering love, fear of commitment and the importance of ridding negativity. The 26-year-old South Londoner says of the track who he co-wrote with collaborator Pearse Macintyre (Dua Lipa/ Emily Burns): “Palo Santo is probably my personal favourite. It was the first song written for the project and it was written a day or so after my 26th birthday. For me, I think it speaks to my generation, how cautious we are of people and protective we are of ourselves that we may become too careful and miss out on a good thing.” 

The singer has already racked up impressive online numbers with over 700,000 TikTok likes, over 100,000 YouTube views, 20,000 monthly listeners and over 14,000 followers across all social platforms. The anticipated 2nd EP is an exciting move from his debut EP, Pilot, which produces a diverse range of R&B/Soul sounds with Pop influences which introduces a colourful representation both sonically and visually.

Saint Joshua is no newcomer to music and performing having sang at school and having performed across the country for years learning his craft along with signing label deals. With early experience under his belt, it was only early 2021 during lockdown, armed with new music that Joshua decided it was now or never to re-launch his music to the world. Giving birth to the debut EP ‘Pilot’ along with its single’s I Like (March) which premiered on Wonderland Magazine with features in Rollacoaster and follow ups Love is (May) and Mi Amor (June). To accompany the releases, Joshua created a series of filmed content including an official video and a full acoustic live performance of the EP which was later released as a live EP, Pilot (Acoustic) (August) across all streaming platforms. Joshua’s debut material was met with great support from music and fashion publications, blogs and playlisting whilst building a growing steady international online fanbase.

Here’s your chance to watch the 70s inspired video for Saint Joshua’s ‘Palo Santo’…

Song of the Day: Way I See It – Pyano

Canadian rapper PYANO‘s first release of the year, ‘Way I See It’ is driven by a vibrant and energetic groove, taking a peek into his journey of finding his sound as an artist.

“I’m always somewhere between the motivational, hardcore rap that I grew up on versus the more melodic stuff that I listen to today,” says Pyano. “On this track, specifically, I find a good balance between the two which as a result enables me to celebrate the milestones of success in my life in spite of this whole pandemic thing. Despite the challenges and obstacles over the last couple years, I’m exactly where I planned to be, and further, which is why this track is a good representation of all the lessons I learned through all that.”

Born in Amman, Jordan but currently living in Ottawa, Canada, Pyano has mastered the art of bringing charged vibes on records, ranging from lyrically conscious to catchy melodic anthems. His music transcends borders between hip hop subgenres using witty yet motivational lyrics and a bouncy cadence to give his smooth signature style over an infectious piano laced beat.

Pyano released three singles in 2021, ‘Closed Off’, ‘Pineapple Juice’ and ‘From the Beginning’, his biggest single so far, and continues to make his introduction to the rap game known with his latest single, ‘Way I See It’ while teasing his first EP which will be out later this year.

Check out the official video for Pyano’s ‘Way I See It’…