Arliston’s new single, ‘Vertical’ mountaineers through melancholy

ARLISTON‘s latest offering ‘Vertical’ is a brooding, introspective journey that delves deep into the heart of existential dread. The duo’s signature blend of intimate vocals and expansive soundscapes is in full force here, creating a sonic atmosphere that’s both suffocating and cathartic.

Opening with a delicate piano melody and Jack Ratcliffe’s soulful baritone, the track gradually builds to a crescendo of emotional intensity. It’s a familiar Arliston territory, but ‘Vertical’ feels like a particularly raw and vulnerable exploration of the band’s signature melancholia. The lyrics, both poignant and relatable, capture the paralyzing feeling of being overwhelmed by life’s challenges.

Musically, the track is a masterclass in dynamics. The tension between quiet introspection and soaring choruses is expertly handled, creating a sense of emotional catharsis. The addition of Sam Catchpole’s driving drums and Brett Shaw’s percussive flourishes adds a layer of complexity to the arrangement, without ever overshadowing the song’s core emotional impact.

While Arliston’s influences are clear – The National, Bon Iver, and Damien Rice cast long shadows over their sound – the duo have managed to carve out their own distinctive niche. ‘Vertical’ is a testament to their talent for crafting songs that resonate deeply with listeners, offering a much-needed soundtrack to those moments of doubt and despair.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Arliston, ‘Vertical’ is a must-listen. It’s a song that lingers in the mind long after the final notes fade, leaving you with a sense of both melancholy and hope.

‘Vertical’ was released last Friday (26th July) via various music platforms. Why not have a listen below…

Follow Arliston via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/officialarliston
IG: https://www.instagram.com/arliston/
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OUT TODAY: Benny Bizzie is ‘Not Sorry’ for falling in Love in New Single

Singer, songwriter and producer BENNY BIZZIE brings on those hazy summer days in single, ‘Not Sorry’, with hypnotic synths, mesmerising guitar licks, and memorable hooks, topped off by the warmth of the North London-born R&B crooner’s soulful falsetto. ‘Not Sorry’ is hitting all streaming platforms on 1st  August.

With a soft bass line, inspired by UK garage classics, such as Shanks & Bigfoot’s hit, ‘Sweet Like Chocolate’ and Sweet Female Attitude’s  ‘Flowers’, ‘Not Sorry’ should have been a Valentine’s track as it is all about giving out love excessively, without any consequences. Bizzie sings: ‘If loving you is a crime, then I’m guilty for my crimes charge me so I can do the time, If I say I’m sorry, that’s a lie’

‘Not Sorry’ follows Benny Bizzie’s first single of 2024, ‘Dejavu’, which pays homage and love for families and children in Gaza affected by current conflicts. Bizzie calls on his younger self, as a rap/grime artist, to deliver gritty rap lyrics packed with emotion while keeping it warm with soulful R&B melodies. 

Benny also makes zero apologies for the love he is pouring out to his ever-expanding fan base as he plans to unleash a string of releases throughout 2024, which includes his upcoming album, ‘Project Human’.

Growing up in the estates of Tottenham, in north London, Benny wanted to find his place in society, where he can be his true self. He found solace in music, which led to his journey as a grime/rap artist, often swapping and dropping verses with childhood friends. His childhood friends would later become firm figures in UK’s grime scene which includes  Ghetts, BoyBetterknow and Ruff Sqwad.

In his adult years, Benny transitioned into R&B artist, perfecting spine-tingling falsetto over the years, often touching on current topics that are close to his heart (as featured in single ‘DejaVu’), self-development/self-discovery – and, of course, love in all forms. To date, Benny has generated over 650,000 views on YouTube and over 250K streams on Spotify alone and has generated firm support from the likes of BBC1xtra and BBC London.

Bizzie continues building momentum with cross-platform visibility through recent appearance in National Lottery advert and various podcast appearances. His collaborative single with Audio Attack, ‘Crazy For Your Love‘, was featured on Australia’s TV hit shows, Home and Away and Bachelors.

Forming part of his upcoming album, ‘Project Human’, ‘Not Sorry’ is available from 1st August on various music platforms.

Connect with Benny Bizzie via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/BENNYBIZZIE/
X: https://x.com/BennyBizzie
IG: https://www.instagram.com/bennybizzie/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bennybizzie

Song of the Day: When It Comes Together – Matt Wilde x [ K S R ]

Following the widespread success of his debut album ‘Hello World’ last year, which found support across BBC Radio 6, BBC Radio 2, Jazz FM and more, Manchester based-pianist and producer MATT WILDE returns with a smooth offering taken from his forthcoming ‘It’s A Delight’ EP. A celebration of Manchester’s fertile nu-jazz and soul scene, ‘When It Comes Together’ sees Matt connect with altsoul wordsmith [ K S R ] for a Robert Glasper-esque, piano-led hip-hop beat with heartfelt lyrics exploring human connection.

Out now via DeepMatter Records, Matt comments: “This track explores the magic of unity and collaboration. The soulful vocals and intricate production highlight the beauty of coming together to create something meaningful.”

Matt’s ‘It’s A Delight’ EP is a heartfelt exploration of everyday joys and human connection. The fivetrack EP captures the essence of wilful gladness and beauty found in ordinary moments, with Matt weaving a reflective, uplifting musical narrative through his melody-driven approach to improvisation and composition. Soothing, warm harmonic choices sit front and centre on meditative pieces like ‘Trying To Be Kind’ and ‘Timekeepers’, whilst electric moments of joyous collaboration
occur on RH Factor-leaning cut ‘Good Things Happen’, featuring trumpet player Aaron Wood (Secret Night Gang, Olivia Dean).

On the EP, Matt shares: “It’s a Delight is an exploration of the small joys that make life meaningful. The project was a collaborative effort that brought new perspectives and layers to the music. This EP celebrates the everyday moments that bring us together and the joy that grows when shared.”

A fast-rising artist known for his lyrical, virtuosic and jazz-tinged approach to keys playing and production, Matt Wilde is a key part of the Manchester scene that’s played a huge role in the growing international success of UK jazz. Cutting his teeth producing for local grime artists including Prose and Bugzy Malone before going on to collaborate with Brownswood Records’ Secret Night Gang and HMD, he’s a multi-faceted artist with an in-demand creative approach. His music has received widespread support from tastemakers including Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan and Deb Grant, and he’s been spotlighted in publications including the Big Issue, all whilst growing his own social media channels and building a strong community across YouTube and Instagram.

Listen to ‘When It Comes Together’ below…

Song of the Day: Worth It – Paige Bea

London-based singer, songwriter and producer PAIGE BEA‘s single, ‘Worth It’, is a dark, feminist ode to the frustrations of not knowing where you stand at the start of a new relationship. On ‘Worth It’, Paige is characteristically direct, asking outright rhetorical questions that ask for frankness in where this new romance is heading, paired with bold, honest statements about her own intentions: “I’m not here to convince and coerce / make things nice and give birth / I’m a difficult person”.

Speaking more on the lyrical inspiration behind ‘Worth It’, Paige said: “The lyrics for Worth It came shortly after a date I’d just been on. I was already just so anxious about when I was going to get the text back and how much longer we were going to have to do this silly dance before we just gave in to falling in love and seeing what happens. It felt like we were both coming into the start of it with a lot of trepidation given past relationships we’d been in, and we were trying to be adults by taking it slow, but it also felt like that was sucking the fun, spontaneous joy of starting something new out of it? I was also thinking about expectations of women in relationships, the peacemaker, the homemaker, the PA, the mother (I’m not here to convince and coerce / Make things nice then give birth / I’m a difficult person) and I wanted to make a statement that I probably won’t fit into the idea of who you think I am and I want to make that clear, but I’m also up for just leaning into this new feeling and taking a leap of faith if you are? I think our generation has this tendency to think that because they are grown and therapised, it means we can micro-manage all our relationships and behaviours and I’m far too impulsive for that. I’m much more about throwing myself in the deep-end and seeing where it takes me.”

Across her work to date, Paige Bea has seen excitable airplay and support from BBC R1’s Jack Saunders, Tara Kumar, Sian Eleri, BBC Introducing London’s Jess Izsatt, and BBC 1Xtra’s Jamz Supernova (who invited her into the studio for a Late Night Discovery interview), as well as esteemed publications and outlets such as COLORS, The Line Of Best Fit, Wonderland, The Independent, CLASH Magazine, Wordplay Mag, enfnts terribles, The Rodeo + more.

Upon the release of ‘Worth It’, Paige Bea announced her new EP ‘Flutters’ which was available from Wednesday (17th July) via DMY Artists. Why not listen to the avant-garde track below…

Watch Benny Bizzie’s Performance/Lyric video for latest single, ‘Dejavu’

London’s R&B singer, rapper, and producer BENNY BIZZIE has dropped a performance and lyric video for latest single, ‘Dejavu’, where he expresses his frustrations over the terror in Gaza.

Bizzie calls on his younger self, as a rap/grime artist, to deliver gritty rap lyrics packed with emotion whilst keeping it warm with soulful R&B melodies.

Expect more music from Benny throughout this year…but for now, check out the video for ‘Dejavu’ below…