Alt-Pop songstress APRIL JAI‘s new single ‘Morally Grey’ shows her exploring the complexities of affection for fictional morally ambiguous characters, showcasing her artistic depth and creativity.
April Jai made the following statement about the track: “I wrote “Morally Grey” mainly for my fellow book girlies who fall in love with fictional bad boys, it might be a red flag in real life but in the fictional world it’s perfection”
Bringing a fresh perspective to the alt pop genre, infusing it with a unique take that is all her own, ‘Morally Grey’ promises to be a captivating addition to April’s growing discography, solidifying her position as an artist to watch. Listen to ‘Morally Grey’ below…
Tag: UK talent
Song of the Day: P.L.L – Karen Nyame KG
One year on from her acclaimed 2022 heater ‘Taboo’ and 2021’s sun-soaked Sensei II EP, ‘Goddess of Rhythm’ KAREN NYAME KG shares single, ‘P.L.L’ (Pretty Little Liar) with the announcement of her new imprint, Rhythm In The City.
A lush and luxurious slice of deep Afro-house, drawing on her experiences with the darker side of romance, KG describes the track as, “a diary entry in music format”. Unafraid to dive deep with soul-baring productions, in her own words, ‘P.L.L’ is darker in mood, an electronic, low-end, Afro Percussive bounce. It is a tale of heartbreak, jealousy and unrequited love.”
Self-described as “a party for the grown and sexy”, Rhythm in the City began life as an event, carefully curated by Karen herself. Developing into a sell-out event series, the strong community around RITC is a testament to Karen’s bold creative vision and her much sought-after sonics. The evolution of the platform into a label, (Rhythm in the City / RITC Records), was a no-brainer – the label sonically is a reflection of Karen Nyame KG and the parties – it’s all about soul, percussive bounce, mood and melody. In her own words,”it will make you dance, seduce, but better yet, feel.”
Karen adds, “RITC is an extension of my own production signature that embodies a multitude of styles, UK Funky, Altè r&b, Afro Altè, Gqom, Amapiano, Highlife, Afro House. The RITC sound is unconventionally rhythmic, a hub for genre-bending, Afro-Electronic music. The label is all about breaking conventions and formulas in electronic dance music.” Due for release on her own imprint, the anticipated Red EP is a sentimental, candid insight to KG’s deepest musings on romance, passion and lust.
Returning in 2018 after a break from the music industry, KG has been in the scene for over a decade and has become an iconic name. Adored globally across diasporic and electronic spheres she stands out from the crowd with her sensual, melodic sonics, and penchant for groove-laden sounds that sit at the intersection of UK club music and the sounds of African diaspora.
2022 saw Karen mark the end of summer with her sizzling single ‘Taboo’, tipped by COMPLEX, DJ Mag and The Wire in their best tracks for 2022. This year, she flexed her A&R hands, enlisting the mighty Afrotech pioneer DJ IC, and Batido maestro, Vanyfox to create two huge remixes for ‘Taboo’.
In 2021, Karen stunned faithful followers and new fans alike with the glorious EP Sensei II (Black Acre Records), featuring the widely-celebrated sound of the summer, ‘Koko’ (reaching over 2 million streams) and with support from Resident Advisor, Mixmag, DJ Mag, Pan African Music and more, Sensei II truly reignited the flame for her. Truly dedicated to her craft, Karen Nyame KG continues to reach new heights as her creative and personal evolution continues.
‘P.L.L’ is the first offering from her forthcoming EP, Red, and marks another step in the British-Ghanaian polymath’s journey. Have a listen below…
John Alone tackles love and isolation in highly-anticipated album, ‘No one is coming to save you’
With radio and editorial support from the likes of Jamz Supernova of BBC 1Xtra acclaim, US publication Ones To Watch, NTS, Dummy, KissFM, Wordplay Magazine and Wonderland, it is clear that the eyes and ears of the music industry are firmly on the nascent R&B superstar JOHN ALONE . After over a year of teasing and speculation, the trailblazing alternative artist has finally released his latest full length effort, ‘No one is coming to save you’.
The 18-track collection goes on the journey of love and isolation, loss and salvation, while proudly answers the cry for uniqueness and individuality in a sea of ever evolving musical norms that will be appeal to fans of Frank Ocean and The Weeknd.
‘No one is coming to save you’ is as multi-layered and unfiltered as the artist himself. John has left no stone unturned, no feeling unexplored and no theme undiscussed, choosing to bare it all for his growing fanbase. Why not check it out below…
Must Listens: go2hell, indira, PLACE, faawud, Lord’s Prayer, what a life
Tilly Valentine releases witty breakup anthem ‘Yours Is Mine’.
Reminiscing on the promise of “what’s yours is mine”while discovering an ex’s forgotten belongings, TILLY VALENTINE takes the promise quite literally with her ode to post-relationship liberation.
‘Yours Is Mine’ is an audacious R&B anthem which effortlessly blends pop sensibilities with Valentine’s signature soulful vocals. She shares, “It’s a strange moment when you find traces of your ex’s life still lingering around. Finding their forgotten belongings and turning them into a silver lining is a light hearted way of taking back control.”
With BBC Radio 6 Music championing her “beautiful pop music”, rising independent artist Tilly
Valentine has already garnered multi million streams and broadcasts across BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra,
BBC 6 Music, The Hot List, Jazz FM and more. The BRIT School Alumna was born and raised in a small
Oxfordshire town and moved to London aged 16 where she has continued to soothe the ears of tastemakers ever since. The brand new single can be found on Spotify’s New Music Friday, as well as on BBC Introducing for its premiere.
The accompanying music video promises to be as petty and charming as the song itself. Having earned
BBC Radio 1’s “Tip of the Week” earlier this year, Valentine prepares for her highly anticipated headline
show at PizzaExpress Jazz Club this November.
Have a listen to ‘Yours Is Mine’ below…
Song of the Day: Fade Away – Ricardo Williams
Following a prolific journey in the R&B landscape, RICARDO WILLIAMS unveils ‘Fade Away,’ a soul-stirring R&B slow jam that signals a poignant farewell to a familiar sound and heralds the dawn of an invigorated artistic path. Drawing inspiration from the heartfelt undertones in Summer Walker’s ‘Say My Name,’ Ricardo crafts a narrative that mirrors his own experiences, feelings of loss, and the rediscovery of his artistic essence.
The inception of ‘Fade Away’ came about at a deeply personal space, a time when Ricardo felt detached from his creative self, grappling with a loss of direction in his music. This period of artistic stagnation, characterised by months of being unable to write, urged him to channel the feelings of letting go into the
realm of relationships, creating a metaphor that beautifully depicts his evolving relationship with music.
Ricardo shares, “This song came about from a time when I felt like I had lost my essence as an artist, chasing the wrong things and losing my spark in the process. ‘Fade Away’ is a testament to the journey of rediscovery, using the pain and the detachment as a metaphor woven into a relationship narrative. It marks the end of an era and the exciting beginning of what’s next, a rebirth of Ricardo Williams.”
‘Fade Away’ bears the authenticity of a heartfelt goodbye, a relinquishment of the past, and a warm embrace of the promising future. It resonates as a beacon of renewal, the culmination of one chapter and the eager step into another, carrying the hallmark of Ricardo’s immersive R&B with a fresh and revitalised spirit.
As Ricardo prepares to explore fresh horizons, immersing himself in the studio in anticipation of an upcoming album, ‘Fade Away’ stands as a sincere note to fans, an invitation to witness the transformation and to grow alongside an artist ready to bare his soul in new, profound ways.
Have a listen to ‘Fade Away’ below…
New Lease Music 