EP Review: All In Me – Laolu

LAOLU‘s 2018 single, ‘How To Feel’ has got me fired up enough to look out for her debut  EP, ‘All In Me’…and judging from the strong support she received from BBC 1xtra and The Best Line Fits, it seems that I’m not the only one left hanging for the nine-track set.

Kicking off with a moody introduction through single ‘Buffering’, the EP predominantly delves into the haziness of smooth R&B and soul. Fifth effort, ‘Disconnect’, showcases a flair of the blues, intensifying the spine-tingling sensation presented in the EP. ‘So Right’ momentarily breaks away from the collection’s misty theme by injecting a smooth chirpiness of the Afro/reggae-esque bassline.

Those who admire the musical prowess of artist H.E.R, will definitely warm towards the South-East London songstress, who wants to offer the listener a fresh perspective on traditional R&B/Soul – and she does it perfectly through ‘All In Me’. Check her out below:

Must Listens: Disconnect, 20’s, Love Lost Found. 

New R&B Sensation Emiko Releases Brand New Single, ‘CareFree’

R&B newcomer EMIKO kicks off the new year on a irresistibly smooth note with new single ‘Carefree’. Sporting a laid-back neo soul vibe, the Daniel Sappore-produced track displays the young crooner’s undisputed ability to woo the listeners (especially the ladies) with alluring lyrics, delivered in his impeccable velvety vocals.

The West London soul singer has had an enormously successful 2018 in which he has been thoroughly working on building up a solid fanbase by performing at renowned venues such as Notting Hill ArtsClub, and getting his artistry to a next level by spending endless hours time in the studio. Already his previous single ´R U DOWN‘ has garnered huge support from the likes of BBC 1xtra’s DJ Ace, Reprezent FM and LDNRBS and was chosen by former Westside FM’s host Rebecca Judd’s ‘Westside track of the week’ after its release.

‘Carefree’ is taken from his upcoming, highly anticipating debut EP which will be released in the near future.

This is too good to pass…check out EMIKO‘s ‘Carefree’ below:

New Track: Misty Head/Sunny Street – Oscar Jerome

To say South London singer-songwriter Oscar Jerome had a restless 2018 would be an understatement. One of the capital’s finest purveyors of soulful jazzy vibes, Jerome has been busy getting playlisted and tipped by the likes of 6 Music, 1Xtra and Boiler Room, selling out London’s Village Underground and touring consistently – recently playing a run of shows in the US and further cementing his fast-growing international audience.

Keeping up the momentum for the new year, Jerome has now unveiled his brand new single titled ‘Misty Head / Sunny Street’, which dines on an influence of jazz, funk and hip-hop, delivered with the songwriter’s signature lo-fi grit.

Oscar Jerome (credit: Will Millar)

Driven by a warped Thundercat-esque bassline, the track rides an intoxicating groove as Jerome’s lysergic guitars and impassioned vocals serenade above a warm bed of technicolour synth hues. The new cut comes in support of a short European tour which kicks off with Jerome’s biggest headline show to date at London’s EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney) on 20th February .

‘Misty Head / Sunny Street’ is the latest addition to a vibrant back-catalogue that has marked Jerome out as a tour de force in the burgeoning London jazz scene. The single follows 2018’s Where Are Your Branches? EP and the follow-up single ‘Do You Really’ – both of which building on the critical acclaim of his debut self-titled EP released back in 2016.

Check out Jerome’s single below:

New Track: Golden Hell – Ruben Young

RUBEN YOUNG wrote his recently released single, ‘Golden Hell’ last summer at the time when the Canadian singer felt he was losing the perspective on his career and life. Although it displays moments of tension, uncertainty and chaos, ‘Golden Hell’ is accompanied with a contrastingly smooth R&B/Soul-esque tone, further sweeten with speckles of angelic overtones, contributed by producers, The Lost Boys.

The indie soulful songster experienced his taste of recognition back in 2017, after releasing his first three singles which amassed over two million streams and earned opening slots for artists like The Chainsmokers, Akon, and Classified. To date, Ruben’s music charted across platforms in multiple genres including Spotify Viral Canada (#13), Hype Machine Global (#8), and iTunes’ Electronic (#4), R&B (#8) and Pop (#28) categories.

Check out ‘Golden Hell’ below:

Premiere: Driver (single) – Gold Complex

NEW LEASE MUSIC is very proud to present Canadian genre bending collective GOLD COMPLEX‘s single titled ‘Driver’, out today on all streaming/download sites.

Since their last appearance on the blog with sultry single ‘Tread On Me’ back in 2016, the ten-piece band from Toronto has been deep in the trenches of the studio for almost three years, creating their piece de resistance. The latest offering features a three-piece horn section with rich soulful harmonies in an exploration of funk, pop and rock. It’s a song about passion, romantic attraction and emotional co-dependency, reminiscent of Red Hot Chili Peppers but with a modern edge and a classic twist.

‘Driver’ is the second release from their highly anticipated debut album, ‘New Soul’ and follows their first single from the album, ‘Fight About Nothing’, a classic soul jam with a compelling music video directed by the band’s lead singer, Will Bowes. Check it out here.

Keep your ears peeled for their next single ‘Homegirl’, dropping on the 1st February and album ‘New Soul’, coming out on 22nd February…but for now, wrap your ears around this delight.

Remember, you heard it first on NEW LEASE MUSIC!