Marie Dahlstrom, Aligo and Dan Diggas Share New Single ‘Rising’

Following the their appearance on the blog last week with single, ‘Fall Down’, Danish singer and producer MARIE DAHLSTROM, London-based producer DAN DIGGAS and Canadian rapper ALIGO circle back for their new single ‘Rising’, the second track to be lifted from their upcoming collaborative EP ‘4inARow’, out January 15th via Marie’s JFH Records label.

‘Rising’ takes the trio’s hybrid of late night R&B and laid back hip-hop to new heights. Uniting Marie’s angelic voice with Aligo’s subtle verses – backed by a soothing instrumental from Dan Diggas – ‘Rising’ lyrically represents the beginnings of blossoming new relationship.

Speaking on the release of the new single, Aligo said: “Rising to me feels like the song you hear at the end of a good movie. It tells the second chapter of a love story after the initial spark: Honeymoons and bright flames. An ode to people in love, the lyrics definitely put you in that feel good space and remind the people that might not be in love at the moment, that there is something for everyone out there. It’s about when the moment comes and the temperature rises.”

Marie Dahlstrom went on to add: “Dan’s beat reminded me a bit of butterflies in the stomach when I’m love, and that’s what went on to inspire my lyrics for the track.”

Dan Diggas, Marie Dahlstrom and Aligo

Originally conceived as an idea to create a four-track EP in just 4 nights, ‘4inARow’ in essence was an experiment in writing, recording and producing purely on impulse. Each track was recorded between 8pm & midnight on those 4 days in January 2020; with each cut having its own story to tell. Dan Diggas provided the beats for the EP, with Marie Dahlstrom and Aligo sharing vocal responsibilities across the 4 tracks.

Speaking a little more on how the EP came together, Aligo said: “Marie and I lived in the JFH flat for a little over a year and after a few months we figured out a way for us to really tap in and make music together. We told ourselves every night for 4 straight days we are going to tackle a pack of beats that Dan made while he was on tour with Mahalia. Theme-wise there wasn’t a plan at first but we knew we wanted to explore different emotions and feelings with each night that passed. By the end we noticed the songs came together in a cohesive way that demonstrated a four stage cycle of love/relationships.”

Marie Dahlstrom, Dan Diggas and Aligo’s new single ‘Rising’ is out now on download and streaming sites…check out the single below…

Benny Bizzie Reflects on 2020 Events With Catchy New Joint, ‘Blood In The Water’

Known for dishing out smooth afterhours R&B numbers, BENNY BIZZIE switches up for the New Year with single, ‘Blood In The Water’.

Produced by Cee Figz (Pocaan, Fredo, Tion Wayne), ‘Blood In The Water’ is an edgy, Afro-beat inspired track, which expresses the feelings of uncertainty around the world at this current time. Benny sings ‘Even salt looks just like sugar round here’ inferring that nothing is what it seems, reflecting on 2020 events.

Bizzie’s recent E-Motion EP has gained over 500k views on YouTube and over 100k streams on Spotify with support from Link up TV and Sentric Music. To date, Benny has released 5 EP’s  which earned him 2 nominations at the Urban Music Awards for Best Male and Best R&B, Radio support by Charlie Sloth (BBC 1xtra), and features with Ghetts, Frisco, and Wretch 32. His music video for previous track, ‘Pressure’ is currently the blog’s Music Video of the Week.

Be sure to look out more music throughout the year from this guy as he aims to experiment with various genres with his seamless R&B signature. So get the first taste of Benny’s new musical venture below…

Song of the Day: Calendar Girl – Tilly Valentine

Hailing from a small town in Oxfordshire, TILLY VALENTINE starts the New Year with new single ‘Calendar Girl’.

Opening doors with her very own advent calendar counting down the days until release, the narrative of ‘Calendar Girl’ is about dreaming of a perfect future.

Valentine says of her latest release: “It’s easy to feel like other people are in love with perfect “calendar girls”, but by the next month they’re on to the next. ‘Calendar Girl’ is about commitment, longing for something long term.”

Earning its spot on New Music Friday, ‘Calendar Girl’ effortlessly reveals her trademark jazzy influences; an elegant vocal blended with retro alternative pop. The vintage inspired artwork hints at the underlying characteristics; wholesome, delicate and empowering.

So turn a new page for 2021 and watch the lyric video for ‘Calendar Girl’, available on your preferred music platform from 1st January.

Nicki Knightz Unveils Video For Single, ‘1964 Howlett Drive’

Lifted from her most recent EP ‘For The Uninformed’, rapper NICKI KNIGHTZ‘s visuals for 1964 (Howlett Drive) tells the tale of Nicki’s mother, a woman from Norwich who, after falling pregnant, found herself living in deepest Hackney.

The Saul Ali-directed video juxtaposes scenes of Nicki recording the track, and having to recall them visiting Norwich, with its canals and parks, a simpler life where survival is not so hard to maintain. She then smacks back to the grim reality of how her mother lost her financial independence and became despondent on the block.

Check it out below…

Song of the Day: Man Of The Moment – Ransom FA

At the forefront of the Scottish Rap scene, RANSOM FA has built a catalogue of outstanding music which thrust him into the centre of UK Rap, conversations with tastemakers and on to line ups with the UK’s most respected stars including Skepta, Mist and M Huncho. His remarkable lyricism and audible accent makes his music stand out from a competitive crowd, as demonstrated in his starring role in season 1 of the BBC’s ‘The Rap Game’ hosted by DJ Target, Krept & Konan and on recent single ‘Table’ which hit the BBC Radio 1Xtra playlist as BBC Introducing ‘Track of the Week’ and was also handpicked as Jack Saunders ‘Next Wave’ on BBC Radio 1.

Celebrating his wins and affirming his position as ‘Man of the Moment’, Ransom FA’s latest single, comes with production from PenHouse and breathes an air of bold, confident lyricism from the Scotsman.

Ransom FA’s sign out of 2020 is a well-deserved one. A passionate activist in using his platform to pass on opportunities for young Scottish artists, his achievements are a result of his motivation to become a notable black figure in the Scottish music industry and not only inspire but also help to pass on his knowledge. Having built his own studio ‘Ransom HQ’ in Aberdeen to give access to upcoming local musicians, Ransom FA has also completed his own TV show alongside Scunthorpe based rapper F.O.S. on BBC 3 – ‘The Rap Trip’ where the duo travelled the UK to discover and explore the burgeoning Rap communities emerging across Great Britain.

2020 has also seen a slew of releases across YouTube and digital platforms, collaborations, premieres with tastemaker sites Link Up and GRM Daily, support across national radio and celebrated entertainment sites, collaborations with Amazon to grace the pages of Notion magazine and has continued to build his upward spiralling fanbase of over 55,000 followers to go alongside the hundreds of thousands of YouTube views and streams that sit across his online repertoire.

Set to have a momentous 2021 that will continue to break through boundaries and elevate his work in music, TV and philanthropy,  like Ransom FA is going to be the ‘Man of the Moment’ for the foreseeable future.

Be sure to check out his EP ‘Momentum’ dropping soon…for now, hit play