Tag: unsigned group

OUT TODAY: Sonz of Thunder UK returns with track, ‘Money Talk’

For the last few years, Dancehall/Gospel duo SONZ OF THUNDER UK (SOTUK), consisting of brothers Shane and Dean Brown, have adopted the sweet rhythms of the Motherland (Afrobeats), which received a seal of approval from the likes of Capital Xtra, BBC1/1xtra and BBC London. Now the guys return to their Dancehall roots with brand new single, ‘Money Talk’, out 20th August now across various platforms.

Written by Shane and Dean Brown, ‘Money Talk’ sums up a well-known quote: The love of money is the root of all evil.With the glorification of money displayed in today’s world, where many are on a manic chase for the notes – without any consequences – SOTUK’s latest single is a reminder to not place so much faith in the very thing that causes break-ups and envy in relationships. Instead, ‘Money Talk’ encourages to place trust and faith in the Most High. 

Produced by Zabdiel Campbell, ‘Money Talk’ follows the re-release of their 2019 single, ‘Enjoy Life’, named Gospel Song of the Week by Soul Food Gospel Radio. The carefree riddim has also scooped the top spot on UGN Jamz’s Reggae Royalty Chart and AStepFWD UK Christian Chart in the reggae category.

Veterans in the UK gospel reggae scene, SOTUK has been spreading words of inspiration across the UK which earned them a steady following in the gospel and secular communities as well as receiving continuous support by the likes of Capital Xtra’s Ras Kwame, BBC London, Pulse88 Radio, The Beat 1036, Premiere Gospel plus many more. Recipients of TTMP Gospel Awards, SOTUK has been nominated for a Premiere Gospel Music Award. The brothers enjoy more good news; they were recently nominated for GX Awards for Best Reggae Act.

Blessed with performing on the same stages with some of reggae’s great acts such as Papa San, Luciano, Levi Roots and Christopher Martin, SOTUK has been working in Ghana with native producers, including Bizkitbeats and Kbeats, for tracks such as ‘Joy To The World’ and ‘Blessings Pon Blessings’, which possess an Afrobeat flow. Both tracks have demonstrated that the guys can take on many genres while maintaining their Reggae/Dancehall signature sound.

Stay tuned to SOTUK as they are currently working on new music, with fresh and exciting sounds for 2024…Until then, check out their latest single, ‘Money Talk’, out now across all good music platforms.

Connect with Sonz Of Thunder UK via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sonzofthunderukmusic
X: https://x.com/UkSonz
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sonzofthunderukmusic/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonzofthunderukmusic

by Categories: new singlesTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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/
X: https://x.com/arlistonband

by Categories: new singlesTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Song of the Day: Wrong Heart – Permafrost

Nearing two years since the release of ‘Come Back To Surprise’, the Nordic-British post-punk quartet PERMAFROST return with their latest single, ‘Wrong Heart’. This release kicks off the lead up to their new album, ‘The Light Coming Through’, set to unveil in October this year. In addition to the single, Mental Overdrive (aka Per Martinsen) has remixed the single, which will also be available on 4th July.

Formed originally in Molde, Norway in 1982 by school friends Frode Heggdal Larsen and Kåre Steinsbu, Permafrost has undergone numerous transformations over the years. Now joined by fellow Norwegian Robert Heggdal and Daryl Bamonte from the UK (who worked very closely with Depeche Mode and The Cure for several years), they continue to deliver the authentic post-punk sound of the early ’80s. While many contemporary musicians attempt to replicate this era, Permafrost have lived it. Their latest single, ‘Wrong Heart’, has also evolved over time, ultimately resulting in a dark, bass-driven post-punk track that transports listeners back to the shadowy, goth-filled clubs of the ’80s.

Alongside the single, they have released the music video for ‘Wrong Heart’. In a wholesome contrast to the song’s dark sound and nature, the video follows four young girls as they set out to create a music video. Of the video they said “In another dimension Permafrost could be a girl band. In this reality they are planning to create a music video. They have to drag their equipment into the forest to get to the preferred spot, making it into a road movie with a lot of obstacles on the way – like grazing sheep and deer in the blossoming Norwegian nature. When they finally arrive at the spot and want to start playing, the song finishes. All that work for nothing.”

Spread across Trondheim, Oslo and Margate, Permafrost’s creative process is a challenge which the band have had to overcome. During the pandemic, they held weekly video meetings to plan new songs and other band-related issues, leveraging improved long-distance collaboration technology to maintain momentum. The songwriting process typically begins with one member suggesting an idea, which bassist Robert (Bob Frost) then develops in Logic Pro, programming drums and other elements. Singer Kåre (Curry) creates a melody to match, and lyrics are selected from a collective vault they have accumulated over the years. The song is refined through a collaborative process, passing back and forth between all four members until everyone is satisfied.

Utilising their refined songwriting process, Permafrost meticulously crafted their forthcoming album, ‘The Light Coming Through’. Describing their sound as “Optimistic Melancholy”, the album aims to offer inspiration and escapism during challenging times. Infusing politically charged lyrics with dark, synth-infused post-punk instrumentation, Permafrost employs metaphors to convey their message effectively.

Permafrost has built an impressive discography over the years. They debuted with the ‘Godtment’ EP in 1983, released on a limited edition of 50 numbered cassettes. In 2019, they followed up with the ‘Permafrost’ EP on vinyl, later making it available digitally in 2021. Throughout 2021, the band dropped three critically acclaimed singles. ‘Femme Fatale’ and ‘Closed Eyes’ both achieved remarkable success, reaching #1 on the Indie Disko Top40 chart, with the latter maintaining the top spot for six consecutive weeks. These singles also performed well on the Deutsche Alternative and Native25 charts, while earning placements on influential playlists such as Apple Music’s ‘New in Rock’. The third single, ‘Restore Us’, continued their streak of success by hitting #1 on the Indie Disko Top40 and the Native25 chart.

‘Wrong Heart’ is out now across various music platforms. Why not check out the video for the single below…

by Categories: Songs of the DayTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Songs of the Day: The Grey/I Couldn’t Love You More – The Foreign Exchange

In 2002, two artists from opposite ends of the world– North Carolina emcee/singer Phonte of Little Brother, and Dutch producer Nicolay – engaged in a fully online, transatlantic musical collaboration that would help redefine modern music. On August 24, 2024, the novelty of their collaboration became their namesake, and they released their seminal debut album Connected as The Foreign Exchange. Over the course of 20 years, Nicolay and Phonte have both individually and collectively set a precedent for what indie artists can achieve, and revolutionized the way artists collaborate today. With a Grammy-nomination and their very own +FE Music label, the duo commemorates their 20-year-long journey as The Foreign Exchange by sharing a new 12″ single ‘The Grey” / “I Couldn’t Love You More (dub)’.

Out now on all digital streaming platforms, the dual release covers the musical gamut of The Foreign Exchange. ‘The Grey’, which serves as the theme song for ESPN’s new ’30 for 30′ film False Positive, finds Phonte spitting razor sharp bars, with a hook delivered by the silky vocals of +FE Music signee BeMyFiasco. In contrast, Phonte and Nicolay go full quiet storm mode on ‘I Couldn’t Love You More’, a beautiful rendition of Sade’s classic record.

“Rhyming and covering my favorite Sade song felt like the best way to encompass all that The Foreign Exchange represents. We’ve covered a lot of ground over the past 20 years. This single represents us coming back to square one.” – Phonte

ESPN’s new ’30 for 30′ film False Positive, which debuted on June 11, 2024, was scored in its entirety by Nicolay. The film tells the story of former Olympic Track and Field athlete and world record holder Butch Reynolds, who was falsely accused and banned for drug use by the International Amateur Athletic Federation. As a fan of Nicolay’s work, the film’s director, Ismail Al-Amin, first tapped the classically trained multi-instrumentalist from the Netherlands for the project in 2021.

“Ismail booked The Foreign Exchange for an event in Akron, Ohio years ago. He was keen on creating a decidedly soulful score, but with a European twist, as the sport of track and field traditionally is very popular there, and a lot of the crucial action in the film takes place overseas. He felt that I could be the right man for the job. This particular project represents twenty years of experience and accumulated style… the scope of this project and the sheer quantity of music required really allowed me to double down on it all… There’s quite literally a little bit of everything in this score. While I was working on some initial sketches for the film, I came upon the idea of mirroring all of the different stages of Butch’s life and career with the evolution of my own music over the years. So in the early stages of the documentary, the music is largely beat-driven and optimistic, mirroring the sound and feel of my own early years. As the situation gets more complicated and inevitably darker and more emotional, so does the music.” – Nicolay

Nicolay has also been hard at work on his forthcoming solo album, which is currently slated for an early summer release. The project’s latest single ‘Roll Up (I Can’t Lose My High). released in April.

Listen to ‘The Grey/ / ‘I Couldn’t Love You More (dub)’ below….

by Categories: Songs of the DayTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

COLAMP tributes Public Enemy in new EP ‘Tape’

COLAMP tributes Public Enemy and combines their world class talents on their LP ‘Tape’. MC Nathan Nice, producer KDT Produced It, and DJs Arbs & Breeze bring a sublime collection of “modern Golden-Era” bangers. The crew is joined by Blu, Anacron, The Lvxes, Ill Se7en, DJ Gilatine, Drew Anthuny & Life Rexall.

The crew’s name is a nod to PE’s classic “Cold Lampin’ With Flavor”, and speaks directly to their creative inspirations. KDT has produced for Sach (The Nonce), Arbs has a history of wins in LA’s DJ battle circuit, and Breeze has produced tracks for Prince Po (Organized Konfusion), Rakaa Iriescience (Dilated Peoples), Scarub (Living Legends), 2Mex and LMNO(Visionaries) and more.

Why not check out ‘Tape’ below…

Must Listens: January Man, Glitch, Buggin, EYEiii, Ill Loom, Get off

by Categories: New AlbumsTags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment