LYDIA RENÉ‘s single, ‘Leaving’ is a deeply emotional account of what it feels like to leave a relationship in turmoil. The piano and strings, along with Lydia’s increasingly soaring vocals, create an atmosphere that draws the listener into a very intimate space of heartbreak.
A Jersey native (currently residing in Los Angeles), René was recently featured on BET.com as an artist on the verge and she’s been seen and heard on Apple TV + , Amazon Prime (Man In the High Castle Final Season 4.4 million views on Youtube), Disney + (Lady And the Tramp Trailer 7.9 million views on Youtube) and many more. Lydia René has also recently worked/collaborated with Ledisi, Lukas Graham, Bobby Brown, Mike Posner and many others.
Rising alt indie-folk vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist YVONNE HERCULES makes a much anticipated return with the release of bittersweet new single ‘Narla’s Song’ today, a bluesy, melancholy sonic treasure of spinetingling vocals and poignant songwriting as it explores the notions of loss and grief.
‘Narla’s Song’ follows the release of Yvonne’s single ‘Phoenix’ which came out in April this year. The new track comes just ahead of the 9th June release of Yvonne’s 2nd EP ‘Olive’, which is centred on the narratives and experiences of Black women and Black femininity, with the title track inspired by Black British civil rights activist Olive Morris. Fuelled by her own experiences as a Black woman and creative, and inspired by Alternative Folk/Soul, Jazz and Rock, Yvonne has sought to showcase a body of work that she feels truly represents the nuances of her experiences and those of the Black women in her life and around her.
Produced by multi-instrumentalist/producer Malcolm McCarthy (Rita Ora, Jennifer Hudson, X Factor), the forthcoming five track EP ‘Olive’, follows up Yvonne’s critically acclaimed singles ‘Roving’ (2017), ‘Nene’ (2022) and five-track EP ‘Gladiolus’ (2018).
To coincide with the release of Olive, Yvonne is also about to embark on a five-date tour through June taking in Brighton (June 9th), London (June 10th), Bedford (June 15th), Peterborough (June 16th) and Cambridge (June 17th). Tickets for the tour are now on sale here. There will also be some workshops hosted by Yvonne on signwriting and lyrics on 11th June at The Place Bedford – https://www.theplacebedford.org.uk/shows/yvonne-hercules-lyrics-poetry-workshop/ and 4th June 2023 at The Metal, Peterborough on 12th June, more info at http://www.yvonnehercules.com .
Yvonne Hercules says of her latest offering “ ‘Narla’s Song’ is about loss, grief and all the complex emotions around losing a loved one. During my grieving process, I wrote the song as a way to eulogise but also to heal. I remember coming across Olive Morris by chance as I stumbled upon a piece about her work as an activist and her life. I felt disappointed and a sense of loss that as a young Black girl, who needed to hear stories about impactful Black British women like Morris, nobody had ever mentioned her name. That particular connection to Olive Morris was even stronger, because I remembered when I was young I used to be called ‘Olive’, so in that moment, I felt that the significance of her life and activism needed to be remembered.”
Born and bred in London, soulful songbird SACHA T felt she wasn’t at a place where she wanted to be as a musician. In response to this, she wrote latest single, ‘Dream It Away’ on a flight of stairs in her house. Exuding mesmeric old soulful soundscapes, glazed over by Sacha T’s, honeycomb vocals, ‘Dream It Away’ serves as a reminder that she is fortunate to be living her dream.
Sacha T says of her latest offering: “The song is a promise to myself and a reminder to others that I won’t spend the day pining and hoping for an un-promised tomorrow. Instead, I’ll “make the moments that count” and plan to dream my days away.”
Known as the British sunflower, as she spread a little ray of sunshine wherever she goes, Sacha T has a great deal to be thankful for. A recipient of the Ed Renshaw Award, with influences ranging from John Mayer to Coldplay to Lianne La Havas to Selena Gomez and PJ Morton, Sacha T has performed at the Royal Festival Hall, Sofar Sounds, BBC Radio 4’s ‘Loose Ends’ Show, as well as opening up for Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze. The young songstress started 2023 on a high as her first headline show at the start of the year sold out in just three days. In addition to her compelling back-to-back live performances, Sacha T lends her soulful vocals to Fleur East’s track, ‘You’re Christmas To Me.’ . With her previous singles generating over 25k plays so far on Spotify alone, coming from the UK and Japan, Sacha T’s single ‘Dream It Away’ will sure be a great addition to her impressive collection, encouraging us to jump into our dreams and make the most of every moment.
‘Dream It Away’ is available today (10th May) across various music platforms.
Premiered on BBC radio Derby, RAPHAEL TATE‘s new single, ‘Here without You’ is about different forms of grief we all encounter on a daily basis – from a bad break up, an estranged relationship from one’s child, and the extreme loss of losing a loved one. Surrounded by a breathtakingly stunning orchestration, Raphael brings awareness that suffering from any form of grief in silence can be detrimental to our mental and physical wellbeing.
Speaking of the inspiration behind ‘Here Without You’, Raphael confides: “This song is a personal reflection of what I have had to endure the last 13years from the estranged relationship from my first born son and the recent tragic loss of my Mother in May 2020. This composition was created to empathise and sympathise, with people like myself who are battling daily with different forms of grief – to show them strength, courage and perseverance. I wanted to share the message that you can and will make it through these challenges, if you just believe. I am leading by example how we can use our gifts in the arts as a major outlet to no longer sit in silence but openly express or communicate our challenges.”
2022 has been quite a year for Staffordshire-based powerhouse. Since his compelling ballad ‘Lord I Need You Near’- which also deals with the loss of his mother- was picked up by BBC Derby’s Pam Sidhu, Raphael has become a clear favourite with the regional station and went on to perform at BBC Derby charity, Beat The January Blues earlier in 2023. Raphael performance at the charity was aired on BBC One’s East Midlands Today.
Raphael recently took the stage on ITV’s Starstruck, and gave an outstanding performance as James Brown, impressing judges Adam Lambert, Beverley Knight, Rowland Keating and Jason Mansford. Can you watch his performance here. To see more footage on Raphael at Starstruck, please hear over to his IG account.
Now Raphael turns his attention to offering an ode anyone who’s lost in grief and needs a friendly ear with his latest single, ‘Here Without You’, which forms part of his upcoming album, ‘Love Grieve Live’.
Canadian newcomer ELEANOR‘s new single ‘Waste My Time’, was inspired by a friendship that was tiptoeing into a relationship. With the guitar plucks echoing into a mesmeric backdrop and Eleanor harmonic vocals, the cheeky and flirtatious single has an unexpected lyrical reference in the chorus to “Kiss The Girl” from Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
‘Waste My Time’ has helped the Ontario-based singer/songwriter to recognise that not every song she writes has to be deep and pensive, “I can write things that feel light,” Eleanor says.
‘Waste My Time’ follows her 2022 debut single ‘Make Sense’ – which claimed the blog’s Song of the Week title back in December – and forms part of her upcoming EP, ‘A Late Bloom’. Check out the single below…
New Lease Music 