Song of the Day: Repose – Ray Alex (ft. Jayda David)

RAY ALEX‘s first single of the year, which features West London poet Jayda David, goes on a powerful journey of growth and departure from pain, touching on the importance of rest, recovery and time. ‘Repose’ is a multi-seasonal R&B number inspired by Q-Tip and contemporary jazz musicians Alfa Mist and Joe-Armon Jones, merging hip-hop with a psychedelic synth slickness and live drum feel.

‘Repose’ unveils how we invariably grow stronger with rest, recovery and restored self-belief after a painful episode in our life. Jayda David exposes themes of identity, appearance and health with powerful, raw lyrics that leave no space for ego or insincerity. Her lyrics: “I kneel to the weaknesses in me, strength has never felt so good, I guess power is birthed in moments of fragility” magnify one’s self-awareness and flaws in order to shed old skin and come back stronger. This universal theme is referenced again by Jayda David with “this soul knows where it’s going, steady growing, I just flow through time“. It serves as a reminder that we should not let others exercise control or influence over us; we should stick to our instinctive driving force and our individuality, feeling free in our own bodies. The lyric “light for hands I deem worthy, heavy for dark souls who yearn to hurt me” is a powerful encapsulation of this.

Prior to their studio session, Ray Alex felt drawn to Jayda David’s honest, poetic portraits of identity and mental health in the performances that she had showcased on her social media. Ray had finished the instrumental for ‘Repose’ six months prior to their studio session and held off as the lead vocalist, as he felt the music would lend itself better to another artist with a different story to tell.

Ray Alex’s previous EP ‘Good To Me’ released in March 2022 received frequent airplay on Soho Radio and Amazing Radio, to name a few, in a list with Little Simz, Children Of Zeus and more. Remixes of his song ‘Erased’ received airplay on KISS and other stations worldwide. Ray Alex has a string of singles scheduled for release in 2023…so look out for that…but for now, listen to ‘Repose’ below…

OUT TODAY: Rlyblonde’s Debut Single Is The Ultimate ‘Fantasy’.

RLYBLONDE– the project of Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Carina Allen – is making her musical debut with the release of her first single, ‘Fantasy,’ out on all streaming platforms today.

While this may be her debut as a singer-songwriter, rlyblonde is no stranger to the music industry. The New York-based twenty-something has long been the go-to photographer, videographer and creative director for numerous musicians. After years of supporting other artists and friends’ visions, she decided to put down the camera and pick up the guitar for a change.

rlyblonde’s well-established visual world is given new dimension with the launch of her music project. In addition to handling all of the songwriting and creative planning, she has also overseen the conception, production and direction of the music video (out February 17th), and collaborated with friends to plan out and shoot her own artwork and imagery.

Her introductory single, ‘Fantasy,’ flickers between gritty alt-rock and serene, melodic pop. Lyrically, the song echoes the familiar themes of heartbreak, identity and growth that can also be seen in her past self-portraiture and personal photography work.

“‘Fantasy’ is really about being frustrated with dating culture and the performances that women (especially women dating men) have to put on, almost out of necessity, until it hits a point where it all becomes too draining,” she explains. “At the same time, it’s also a song about the power of women, the power of illusion and seduction, the power of confidence, and the power of being anonymous.”

rlyblonde will be unveiling the ‘Fantasy’ music video at her debut performance at Heaven Can Wait in New York on 17th February…but for now, have a listen to the single below…

Song of the Day: Fashonova – H.O.M.A

Following his well-received 2022 project, ‘Compilation 2, emerging artist .H.O.M.A. shares yet another sensuous single, ‘Fashonova’, which sets the tone for his debut EP ‘North Star’.

Produced by American born, Grammy nominated producer Oren Yeol – the luxurious, log drum heavy, afro pop anthem displays H.O.M.A in a steamy encounter with his love interest. Expect more music on the way from this guys…but for now, have a listen to ‘Fashonova’ below…

Song of the Day: City Lights – DFlexXx

DFLExXx has started 2023 on a chilled vibe with ‘City Lights’, inspired by H.E.R’s hit ‘Slide’. A perfect addition to any summer playlist, the catchy chorus of this smooth RnB joint has been dominating the radio airwaves since its release late last month.

25-year-old Cardiff born Welsh rapper Darnell Ramone Williams (DFlexXx) has a unique, credible and commercial sound that is a blend of Hip Hop and Trap, predominantly rooted in the contemporary UK Rap scene. He developed his performing skills from the young age of six as part of dance troop, Jukebox Juniors, who achieved traction following their feature in a BBC Documentary and went on to appear in children’s TV shows & in films. After studying music at Bridgend College and ACM London, he discovered his natural talent for rapping and songwriting, and so decided to pursue the path of a professional rapper. Subsequently, he has released three other singles and promises a bright future in the music industry.

Well it’s time to check out DflexXx’s ‘City Lights’ below…

Listen To Vanessa Mood’s Stunning Single, ‘Work Things Out’

VANESSA MOOD (Vanessa Moodley) is a South African born singer, international award-winning songwriter, producer and entrepreneur. A newcomer to Canada, her music is soulful, passionate and often tells stories of intimacy that leaves one feeling less alone in this world.

Her sincere and heartfelt new song, ‘Work Things Out,’ is about forgiveness—for ourselves and those we love. Faced with a challenging situation, this one felt unique, as previously in other relationships that had reached this point, Vanessa was willing to walk away. But with this one, that was not an option.

Her life kicking off at the tail end of apartheid, Vanessa had no idea that a career in music was something that was available to someone of her skin colour or gender. It was only after completing a degree in music, which started as an escape from the pain of her father’s death, that she realized that she needed music. She hoped for more than her early learnings of jazz and began by exploring her love for pop music.

Have a listen to the stunning ‘Work Things Out’ below…