Song of the Day: Hidden – Bianca Rose

British/Jamaican/Nigerian singer-songwriter BIANCA ROSE has been writing and composing for the best part of a decade. In 2007 she self released her debut EP ‘Truth and Tiny Tragedies’, and has continued to collaborate and write songs for other artists ever since. Accompanying herself on guitar and ukulele, Bianca’s live shows have included sets for Sofar Sounds, Tigmus, London Jazz and One Taste Festivals, City Showcase, The Vortex and the CrimeJazz Festival in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, along with additional performances for Playstation, OH TV, & radio play on Radio 1 and 1Xtra. As a lyricist in the Ready Riters song writing collective, Bianca recently co-wrote X-Factor contestant Annastasia Baker’s debut album, resulting in Annastasia’s 2014 MOBO nomination.

Bianca has decided that 2017 is the right time to focus on her own music again, and release some of the songs she’s written over the last few years. Her debut album ‘No Fear Here’ (released in January 2017) is an expansive interpretation of the singer songwriter genre, fusing Bianca’s folk/gospel sensibilities with both Bianca and Femi’s African diasporic perspectives. It was part-funded by the PRS for Music Foundation and produced by critically acclaimed jazz musician and producer Femi Temowo, (George Benson, Andrea Bocelli, Amy Winehouse, The Roots, ESKA & Soweto Kinch).

‘Hidden’ is the third single from Bianca’s debut album ‘No Fear Here’. Directed by Dominic Döring, the visuals are set around the issue of men and mental health and how difficult it is to share these particular struggles with those closest to us. Bianca adds: “Even as a woman, it is never easy to reveal you have battled with any kind of mental oppression. But sharing is often the first step to breaking its power.”

New Track: Because of Love: Bianca Rose (ft. Ayanna Witter-Johnson)

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British/Jamaican/Nigerian singer-songwriter BIANCA ROSE has been writing and composing for the best part of a decade. In 2007 she self- released her debut EP ‘Truth and Tiny Tragedies’, and has continued to collaborate and write songs for other artists ever since. Accompanying herself on guitar and ukulele, Bianca’s live shows have included sets for Sofar Sounds, Tigmus, London Jazz and the CrimeJazz Festival in the Netherlands with additional performances for Playstation, OH TV, & radio play on Radio 1 and 1Xtra. As lyricist in the Ready Riters songwriting collective, Bianca recently co-wrote X-Factor contestant Annastasia Baker’s debut album, resulting in Annastasia’s 2014 Mobo nomination.

Bianca has decided that 2017 is the right time to focus on her own music again, and release some of the songs she’s written over the last few years. The second single taken from her highly anticipated debut album is entitled ‘Because Of Love’ and features Mobo nominated singer/songwriter and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson. Bianca explains “Ayanna and I collaborated on every part of the creation of this song, from writing to recording, so it only made sense that the video was an extension of this partnership, whilst debunking the stereotype of competition between women. We believe there is a place for us all in this business so we actively make room for one another.”

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Her debut album ‘No Fear’ Here was part-funded by the PRS for Music Foundation and produced by critically acclaimed jazz musician and producer Femi Temowo, (George Benson, Andrea Bocelli, Amy Winehouse, The Roots, ESKA & Soweto Kinch). ‘No Fear’ Here is an expansive interpretation of the singer/songwriter genre, fusing Bianca’s folk/gospel sensibilities with both Bianca and Femi’s African diasporic perspectives.

Bianca adds “These songs are snippets of the lessons I’ve learned and am still learning. Some people believe that fear is something we should live with, or that we should use it as motivation to achieve our goals. From my experience, I believe it’s something to be conquered and routed out of every area of our lives. I try to live on a daily mission to seek and destroy all traces of fear and oppression in my life. It’s the only way that’s worked for me.”

‘Because of Love’ is now available on all streaming platforms and ‘No Fear’ Here is released today.

New Music Video: Waters Run Deep – Coco (ft. Shola Ama)

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COCO continues his rapid ascent with the release of the compelling Waters Run Deep featuring an inspired collaboration with the urban scene’s sweetheart, Shola Ama and fellow Sheffield spitter, Deep Green.

The soft instrumental bed radiates a warm and deeper edge to COCO’s sound as he leads his vocals from Shola Ama on the opening hook. From the instrumental, the variance in tone of the three contributing vocals accentuates mystery and empathy, whilst  displaying a raw edge of reality from the rougher vocals of COCO and Deep Green.

The Sheffield emcee’s artistic unpredictability and vision to experiment with different flavours and styles has made for an inspired catalogue of music over the last 18 months, resulting in him hitting the polls as one of the ’15 MC’s Out Of London You Need To Know Today’ via Complex Magazine and being chosen as ‘One To Watch in 2016’ for MixMag by Annie Mac. From the hefty grime remix of Big N Serious with MOBO nominees AJ Tracey and Nadia Rose, through to his recent Jamaican-peppered collaboration with Protoje, (making him the first UK act to collaborate with one of the biggest reggae stars across a grime beat), COCO has taken a fearful and inspiring route to releasing music in 2016; making the music speak for itself.

Finishing what has been a defining year for the Sheffield native, which has seen him perform at Glastonbury on the BBC Introducing stage, alongside Stormzy at Ibiza Rocks, Red Bull’s Manchester Carnival, Notting Hill Carnival, Bestival and the Royal Albert Hall for Jamie Cullum’s BBC Proms, this promising upriser gives an idyllic and retrospective send off to the year with Waters Run Deep – check out the video.

Song of the Day: Platinum & Gold – Basheba

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After experimenting in the studio with the hotly tipped producer, XVR BLCK, BASHEBA returns with new material inspired by the sounds of 90s RnB and contemporary bass. The sublime Platinum & Gold, is the first release taken off her latest E.P Axiom Part 2, out now.

Known for combining breakbeat and jungle rhythm in her previous work, Platinum & Gold marks an evolution in sound for the young artist. Her lyrics come straight from the heart and the dark soulful vocal delivery always stands out in her music, and it’s this, which she has been able to translate effortlessly to other areas, such as alt pop and R&B with the project.

BASHEBA‘s last track Don’t Go, garnered support across the board from tastemakers at 1Xtra, BBC Introducing and 6music and online by SBTV, Complex, 405, Fred Perry and MOBO Unsung and her latest project is another example of why she is one to watch – check it out!