Tag: UK talent

Song of the Day: Overnight – Alamay & Omar Cassius

      Bristol-based emerging stars vocalist ALAMAY and OMAR CASSIUS (fka skiimsk) announce their second self-produced EP How tTo Swim, dropping 13th July 2022, and share the heady and soulful single ‘Overnight’. The follow up to their debut release, Aurora, and their lauded Boiler Room debut, ‘Overnight’ is a heart-rending track, with Alamay reflecting candidly on past relationships. A gorgeous, melancholic slice of R&B produced by Omar Cassius, his minimalist percussion, sparse sparkling guitar and brooding bass provide the perfect backdrop for Alamay’s heartfelt vocals.

      Gaining an education in Soul and Jazz from an early age, Alamay’s style draws on inspiration from these rich, timeless sounds as well as her Ethiopian heritage. One of Bristol’s most promising new talents, Alamay is bringing a refreshing take on modern R&B/Soul. She first entered the scene in 2019 with her collaborative project with Omar Cassius, Aurora, followed by a track entitled ‘Miirror’ featuring KNWGD in 2020, and made serious waves with her impressive live Boiler Room set, performing alongside deconstructed club titans, Giant Swan and Jabu. Already gaining tastemaker support and a dedicated fan-base, Alamay has laid the foundations for many more impressive projects to come.

      Bristol-born artist Omar Cassius (fka skiimsk) entered the scene in 2019 with his collaborative debut EP alongside Alamay titled Aurora. As co-founder of the 1999 platform (a Bristol-based creative collective) he can be found working on multiple other projects – often behind the scenes – with other budding creatives in the city’s buzzing, tight-knit community. To date, most of his creative output and contributions have been his carefully honed, intricate productions. However, How to Swim EP sees the rising artist making his first foray into contributing vocals and bars on releases, with his sights set on further collaborative and solo projects.

      Have a listen to the pair’s stunning single below…

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      5 Weeks Return With Video For Second Soulful Single, ‘Believe It’

      Following the release of their pop/ rambunctious bass debut, ‘Can’t Have It’, UK (Brighton) Pop/R&B duo 5 WEEKS released the video for their second single, ‘Believe It’.

      The new single is a reflection when a woman gets all googled-eyed when she finally found the one, over feathery layers of 90s – inspired soulful jazz, reminiscent of the likes of acid jazz heavyweights, D-influence and incognito.

      A serendipitous musical relationship that was formed out of mutual respect for Reggae, Hip-Hop and rare groove, 5 Weeks consists of singer Alexandria and Darren Outbreak who cites array of artists such as Barrington Levy, Anita Baker, Soul 2 Soul, Mos Def, Anderson Paak, Gwen Guthrie, DJ Premier as their musical influences.

      Being brought up in a musical family, many influences came from her mum being in a reggae sound system in the seventies and eighties, Alexandria has been singing and songwriting from a young age who was later picked by Sony for a publishing deal.

      Darren began DJing at a very early age, getting his first club residency at 15. Starting out in electronic music, he broadened his horizons over the years with many genres in the musical landscape.

      Since releasing their debut, ‘Can’t Have It’, which was well-received across the UK airwaves, the pair have collaborated with Choice FM’s legendary DJ Mix Master with the remix of their single, ‘Woman2Woman’.

      ‘Believe It’ will form part of 5 Weeks’ debut EP, ‘5 Weeks 4EHVA’ coming out in August. The pair are gearing up for an album launch party in their hometown Brighton on 5th September.

      Check out the video below. You can also stream ‘Believe It Here.

      Follow 5 Weeks via:
      IG: https://www.instagram.com/5_week_s/

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      Song of the Day: As It Seems – Alice Rowe

      ALICE ROWE‘s single ‘As It Seems’, heavily explores elements of jazz and old school hip hop, flush with smooth melodies, uptempo R&B beats and Rowe’s soulful voice, but for all of the surface level peace, there’s an undercurrent of uncertainty brought about by the confusing world we all inhabit.

      Here, the British songwriter takes us into further detail about the meaning behind ‘As It Seems’: “I wrote this track after attending an art exhibition in London ‘Alice in Wonderland – Curious & Curiouser’, the concept was about a girl who struggled to survive the confusing world of adults, she also struggled to come to terms with life and learnt that there are many layers/ mysteries. It is thought that Alice and several other characters secretly suffer from mental health issues which helped me to come up with the lyric ‘behind closed doors you can’t see, nothing is ever as it seems’, this is a metaphor for the many doors Alice opens in Wonderland and also for real life where you never know what’s truly going on.

      After attending the exhibition I felt that the concept fit with my current thoughts at the time and it felt right that I explore that. I then created the project. The art work is also inspired by one of the pieces of art in the gallery which I have in my home studio. This track is really exciting for me as I feel like this is where I found my sound.”

      Any prior listener of Alice Rowe’s will notice her development from edgy pop with a soul overtone into this new realm of jazz and hip-hop inspired soulful R&B, which the young artist promises plenty more of in the coming year. Not only is ‘As It Seems’ a great standalone single, but it’s also part of Rowe’s bigger project, titled Nothing is Ever As It Seems. Have a listen below…

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      Song of the Day: Focus – Asher Kosher (ft. EERF Evil)

      North London rapper ASHER KOSHER – founding member and cornerstone of the Hackney-based Root 73 studio and artist community – is back with the second single to be lifted from his forthcoming, as-yet-unannounced new project. ‘Focus’, featuring long-time collaborator Eerf Evil, is out now on Root 73.

      Launching fresh off the back of first single ‘On Our Street’ ft. Bel Cobain back in March, ‘Focus’ turns the next page in Kosher’s dexterous lyric book, as he trades verses with Eerf Evil; another artist with strong ties to Root 73 and The Silhouettes Project – an off-shot platform (and acclaimed multi-artist album of the same name) launched in 2019, dedicated to showcasing the next generation of UK hip-hop, jazz and soul.

      Raised on a diet of A Tribe Called Quest, Tu-Pac, Eminem and later, UK rappers like Dizzee Rascal, Sway and Choong Family – as well as Benjamin Zephaniah’s 2004 book, ‘Gangsta Rap’ – Kosher’s love of lyricism runs deep.

      After spending years honing his craft – including supporting hip-hop royalty in The Pharcyde and KRS1, as well as legendary UK rapper, K Koke during his early twenties – ‘Focus’ lands as another entry point to the reincarnation of Asher Kosher; rapper, thinker and pillar of his community….Check him out below…

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      Song of the Day: Livin’ – Cilla Raie

      UK R&B singer CILLA RAIE continues feeding fans with new music, with the release of her second single of 2022 called ‘Livin’ produced by Grime producer, Treble Clef.

      Experimenting with various sounds, Cilla takes a spin on her frontline R&B sounds mixing this in with influences of grime. Blending in her soft sultry vocals with the essence of confidence. Livin is about embracing who you are and living your life to the fullest despite what people may say, aligning with the idea and values of having no fear in this life.

      Previously Cilla released her single ‘Longtime’ at the top of 2022, garnering support from BBC 1xtra and spotify editorial playlists. Becoming Trace Hit’s Recommendation for April aired across the week on SKY TV. In 2021, Cilla Raie released her ‘Reconnected’ EP which caught the attention of MTV, Wonderland Magazine, BBC 1Xtra, Capital Xtra and more. With her EP peaking at number 2 on the UK Itunes R&B/Soul Album Charts garnering further support from Reprezent, Earmilk, Apple News and more.

      So from reading all her credentials, it’s very safe to say that you’re in very good company with Cilla Raie…have a listen to her latest ‘Livin’ below…

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