Paris-based, Estonian soul artist KATRIN-MERILI announces her debut EP ‘Beautiful Things’ with her new single ‘Hold My Body’, which is out today (20th June). She captures the soulful energy of Yebba, Sade and Cleo Sol, weaving her vocal around a future-facing instrumental to create a distinctive brand of Nordic neo-soul.
‘Hold My Body’ reflects on a long distance relationship, and the power of love to surpass geographical boundaries. Katrin explores the sacrifices that are made when in love, and the hunger for connection and patience needed to see things through. Alt-RnB lyrical flows are balanced with bopping grooves, euphoric synths and a gospel-inflected harmonic flavour, capturing the butterflies in the stomach and thrill of falling in love. Katrin shares: “I started composing this song on a friend’s guitar that was left in my apartment. The chords stuck with me, and gave it so much warmth when I produced the first draft. It took on a life of its own when I played it with my live band, and became the song you can hear today.”
Slated for release in 30th August, ‘Beautiful Things’ is a project consisting of five intimate stories centred around femininity, identity, and mental health, touching upon Katrin’s experience of being split between two countries, and supporting her mother through her battle with breast cancer. Due to the deeply personal subject material, Katrin wanted to be as involved as possible across the project, creating her own visual world to accompany the music, she shares: “I decided to self-produce the EP independently to be able to follow through with my original vision and to make something really personal. I am fully present in all the aspects of the creation, from writing the lyrics to styling, MUA, self-portraits, artworks and collages. Every song is a personal piece of my life and an invite to join me on my journey of self-discovery.”
A rising name in the Parisian soul-jazz crossover scene, Katrin has spent the last eight years in the French capital collaborating and building a name for herself, supporting the likes of Roy Ayres at the revered New Morning jazz club. Her path in Paris led to her meeting co-producer Sacha Arnaud, who was able to help Katrin bring her musical vision to life alongside the vibrant presence of talented French musicians including Noé Berne (Nine Sparks Riot) and Remi Klein (Voyou).
Taken from the ‘Beautiful Things’ EP, set for release on Friday 30th August, ‘Hold My Body’ was
released today (20th June) across various music platforms. Why not have a listen below…
Tag: soul music
Jessica Wilde shares new single, ‘Here Right Now’
Like she just swallowed whole the book of Eckhart Tolle’s ‘Power Of Now’, an influential work cited often by Madonna and Kendrick Lamar, and then went on a trip on P-Funk’s Mothership with Prince and Bootsy Collins strapped in for the ride; highly acclaimed and much-loved singer, songwriter, rapper, producer and South London native JESSICA WILDE is back with a thought-provoking new single ‘Here Right Now’, as she turns up the heat for her highly anticipated new album project dropping this summer, which has already gained heavy support from BBC R1 taste makers Jack Saunders and Jess Iszatt who said ‘We get excited every time we get a new track in our inbox from Jessica Wilde’.
“‘Here Right Now’ is a song for the times, in an age of everyone glued to their screens, missing the beauty of life all around, this is an anthem to wake and shake us up, to bring us back to the now!” exclaims Jessica Wilde.
Inspired by a tube ride where Wilde tried to catch eyes with a cute guy across the carriage but noticed how, “he’s too busy looking at devices, missed my eyes when they were telling him they liked him”, to then provoking her to write on the current state of the world, greedy politicians who have lost touch with reality, consumerism and a hustle mentality that has us chasing material gains, only to feed the ego and leave the soul empty, whilst we miss the true joys of life that only exist in the present moment.
The track follows her recent singles ‘FADE’ co-wrote with multi-platinum selling writer James Newman, who wrote Rudimental’s Brit award winning song ‘Waiting All Night’ with Ella Eyre, ’Freak Out’, ‘Feathers’ with Zoe Kypri and ‘Love Like This’ with Josh Barry, also from the forthcoming new album. The previous singles stirred up some serious heat, with multiple spins on BBC Radio 1’s ‘Future Artists’, BBC Introducing, plus a recent in studio interview and live performance on BBC Radio London with Carrie and David Grant, airplay from John Kennedy at Radio X and editorial playlist support across the board from Spotify, Apple, TIDAL, YouTube Music, Pandora plus features in CLASH, Complex, Wonderland, The Independent and more.
Not only will Wilde’s artistry continue to impress music lovers and tastemakers alike, but so will her ‘PxSSY PWR’ platform which she created as a response to the disparity between support for male artists over female. The residency at Hootanany Brixton has become a hub and major platform for some of the most exciting underground female and non-binary artists, including sold out shows with the likes of Etta Bond, IYAMAH, Zoe Kypri and Tamaraebi to name a few.
‘PxSSY PWR’, which is fronted by Wilde’s fierce, unapologetic, comedic, pink wigged and biro smoking alter ego, ‘ya gurl Charlene’, also has its own Radio show, clothing line in collaboration with FAME Magazine and this summer ‘PxSSY PWR’ returns to Secret Garden Party Festival to take-over the Noir Organics stage.
‘Here Right Now’ is out on May 17th through Absolute Label Services.
Song of the Day: Limon – Hibachi x Image x Sandy
Visionary producer HIBACHI‘s explosive soulful single ‘LIMON,’ features Spanish/UK R&B artist SANDY and the multifaceted American rapper and actor, IMAGE, known for his role in the Netflix series Sex Education.
Sandy, a 20-year-old singer, songwriter, and pianist hailing from London, delivers heartfelt lyrics and a soothing voice aimed at providing solace during uncertain times. Drawing from a diverse range of influences, including classical piano training and contemporary R&B and soul artists like Daniel Caesar, H.E.R., and SiR, Sandy’s music navigates themes of transition and adaptation in the face of change. Her compositions resonate with those experiencing the challenges of adjusting to new environments, offering a sense of connection during moments of isolation.
Image’s journey originates from the streets of Baltimore City, where music served as his refuge from a challenging environment. Through his music, he shares his experiences growing up amidst adversity and his aspirations for the future. With a desire to connect with audiences on a personal level, Image channels his past struggles and hopes for the future into his compositions, inviting listeners to join him on his musical journey.
Emerging producer Hibachi, originally from Tanzania, is making a significant impact in the UK music scene with his unique fusion of Hip Hop, Dance, R&B, and Afrobeat. Distinguishing himself from the mainstream by blending elements of House, R&B, Hip Hop, and Afrobeat, Hibachi’s sound has attracted attention from distributors such as AWAL CORE. Teaming up the three London-based artists Hibachi, Sandy and Image are collectively aiming to energize listeners with their collaborative single… have a listen below…
Song of the Day: Morals – Nicky MacKenzie
The strange states we find ourselves in while growing are where NICKY MACKENZIE‘s soulful upcoming EP MORALS was born. Leaving behind the safe familiarity of adolescence, MORALS is an exploration of the emotional landscape the 23-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter has traversed in the years since her debut album, 2018’s Honeydew. In that time, MacKenzie has left her hometown, navigated shifting relationships, graced the stages of huge festivals, and played intimate shows. In the background, she’s worked on new collaborations and participated in prestigious songwriting workshops, constantly pushing the boundaries of her artistry. The tracks on MORALS are a record of this growth.
The EP’s title track, ‘Morals,’ is about being a people pleaser your whole life until you decide to start saying no and walk away from situations that don’t serve or even entertain you anymore. Your moral values change when you begin to prioritize yourself. You can blame your vices on others, or you can own up to them and decide to not care.
“I wanted to create something catchy that also has a deeper cathartic meaning to it. I think it’s a feeling everyone has eventually, needing to just let go of doubt and give in to your wants. I just wanted to give it a bit of a sassy tone” – Nicky MacKenzie
Why not check out the official video to ‘Morals’ below…
Song of the Day: So Much More – Quinn Oulton
London-based multi-instrumentalist & songwriter QUINN OULTON‘s first single of 2024, ‘So Much More’, is a poignant reflection upon the life of his grandmother, who lived with Parkinson’s Disease for as long as he can remember.
Written from the perspective of Quinn’s grandmother, the track details her fighting spirit and love for life, despite the adversities she faced. It’s a deeply moving tribute to a woman who had no time for self-pity, but spent a lifetime pouring love into the world and helping others. Quinn contrasts his tender lyrical approach with a frenetic combination of acoustic guitar, electronics and dulcet saxophone tones, creating a musical representation of the complexities of living with Parkinson’s.
On the track, he shares: “This track is dedicated to my grandma, GK, who had Parkinson’s for almost as long as I can remember. She was cheated out of life experiences, but despite being born into unimaginably difficult circumstances and fighting for a life she was proud of, she didn’t wallow in self-pity. Instead, she took it upon herself to learn every dark detail about the disease that was eating away at her, and focused her brilliant mind on helping others in any way they needed.”
South London-based multi-instrumentalist, vocalist & producer Quinn Oulton is known for his unique concoction of electronic, indie and jazz. His recent releases bring contemporary RnB elements into the mix – expect heavily altered vocals, chopped acoustic guitars and fast-paced drums.
His debut album ‘Alexithymia’ was released in 2022, receiving national radio support from Gilles Peterson & Huey Morgan (6 Music), Jack Saunders & Sian Eleri (BBCR1), along with Jamie Cullum (BBCR2)& Jamz Supernova (BBC1Xtra). It includes tracks featuring Moses Boyd and Genevieve Artadi. The deluxe version of the album, released in 2023, features singers Ella Grace and Monica Martin, whilst recent singles have also seen him team up with the likes of Reuben James, Linden Jay and Col3trane. He has recently played supported artists including KNOWER, Laura Misch and Jamie Cullum, and is set to embark on his first UK headline tour this November.
Have a listen to ‘So Much More’ below…
New Lease Music 