With a mission to bring together talented musicians from all around the world, HARMONY DREAMERS is a unique musical endeavor led by Byron Lee Scott. With their latest album, featuring a roster of diverse musicians from different fields of expertise, the band raced to the top of the UK iTunes and airplay charts with two singles. ‘I Come From Earth’ currently sits at #2 on the UK Talk Radio airplay chart, while the “Nashville Jam mix” of the song reached #12 on the country sales chart. Now, Harmony Dreamers share an emotional new single, ‘Without You,’ which is an ode to people who will be celebrating the 2022 holiday season without a loved one. The emotional single aims to infuse listeners with hope, while also letting them know that someone out there is going through the same situation.
Scott says, “The more I listen to this song, ‘Without You,’ with the upcoming holidays, it just tears me up, the timing. Two people very close to me, my older brother and my adopted son, just broke up with long time live-in partners, just within weeks. When I worked on the cruise ships, it was not uncommon during the holidays for people to be grieving and trying to find peace.”
He further added, “There were certain healing songs I played for them that they still message me about years later, even though I only knew them for 15 minutes.”
Coming quickly off the back of their previous single ‘Bleak Moors’, Manchester punks TOKEO continue to explore the stark realities of life amongst Manchester’s forgotten mill towns on their single, ‘King of the Town’, the final track taken from their forthcoming debut album, ‘Class Traitor.’
A cathartic triumvirate of punk, rock and rap, the quintet have distanced themselves from much of their Manchester contemporaries through their angst-fuelled take on northern post-punk, preferring instead to shed light on the discrepancies faced by those growing up in areas ignored by wider government.
Indeed, these politics, and this anger are what allow TOKEO to stand apart from a local scene too often concerned with vintage leather jackets and virtue signalling to really care about the wider local area. And on ‘King of the Town’, this vitriol really boils over. A dystopic and tongue in cheek take on misplaced admiration, it’s a blisteringly scathing attack on small-town syndrome.
With each release harbouring more piss and vinegar than the last, it’s obvious that TOKEO are a band unimpressed with the current way the UK is heading, and we shouldn’t be too. At a time when the costs of living are soaring, and the UK government is nothing more than a self-spiralling shit show, the outlook is bleak, and while the band might not offer any respite from that, they certainly provide some much needed catharsis. Have a listen to ‘King of the Town’ below…
Following on from previous single, ‘Strong For You’, Australian Singer-Songwriter, KAREN HARDING reveals the second half of her musical project with Argentinian P&M Records, with the dual release of ‘It’s Okay’ and ‘Greener On The Other Side’, featuring the Cologne Chamber Orchestra.
Written by Karen Harding and produced by P&M Records, ‘It’s Okay’ tells a story of self-frustration.. of believing that you should be somewhere, someone or somehow different than where you are.. and then allowing yourself to drop it and let go in compassion for yourself, letting yourself know that it is truly ok for things to be exactly as they are.
Co-written with P&M Records and featuring the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, ‘Greener On The Other Side’ was written when considering some big changes. It highlights the fears that come up with the change and questions whether what you imagine on the other side of change is truly the reality of how it is. Is the grass really greener on the other side?
“It was such an incredible honour to be able to have the Cologne Chamber Orchestra play on ‘Greener On The Other Side’. It has always been a dream to work with an orchestra, and to work with such a talented and world class orchestra is beyond my dreams” Karen Harding
Since her debut single release in May 2021, ‘I Didn’t Realise’, Melbourne, Australia singer-songwriter, Karen Harding has been on a journey of musical and personal exploration, determined to see what is truly possible in music and creativity.
Karen Harding has recently collaborated with Argentinian P&M Records, the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Canadian producer, Landao, Melbourne Hip Hop artist, Serif, and a stunning inspirational project with Misia Julia, as well as winning the 2021 Bendigo Bank sponsored Radio Eastern songwriter talent show and being nominated as top 10 winner for the World Songwriting Awards, and a nominee for Best International Artist on Crags Radio Independent Artist Awards in February 2022.
Likened to the sounds of Eva Cassidy, Sarah McLachlan and Karen Carpenter, Karen Harding’s music features alluring and ethereal vocals at the forefront, complimented by an instrumental soundscape that will send you soaring within a dreamland of imagination.
Having begun her musical journey, playing the piano at 6 years old and beginning formal singing lessons at 14, music has become a world of discovery and possibility, as well as a tool and a therapy for her to sort through experiences and emotions, that touch each of us within the human race.
Karen Harding has big plans for evolution and metamorphosis as 2023 rolls around and is looking forward to sharing all the projects that are yet to be revealed…but for now, listen to ‘It’s Okay and ‘Greener On The Other Side’…
FRANZ VON has shared his highly anticipated EP ‘People Di Powa’ alongside lead single ‘Asem’, featuring the unmistakeable flow of prolific Ghanaian vocalist, K.O.G.
Fusing tribal hip-hop with elements of jazz, dub and afrobeat, the EP blends powerful spoken word and rap with social commentary and explores the ongoing issue of systemic oppression. ‘People Di Powa’ is a reminder that we are powerful as individuals and even more so as autonomous communities.
Fittingly for an EP about community, Franz is joined by a talented cohort of special guests lending their vocal talents – Cortney Dixon, Nikisha in the Woods, Cynthia Bahy, and K.O.G. all feature whilst the production is a collaboration from Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist/Onipa), Lucian Oniell, Labo Klandestino, Mark Stoney, and Toni Smoke.
The EP opens with Franz Von’s trademark bouncing flow on ‘We All Rise’ – “Indulging in the depth of the riddim / The realest therapy the remedy / Medicated taking doses of melodies / Boost the energy sacred chakra replenishes so effortless the specialist” before Nikisha in the Woods adds her vibrant vocal hook.
Next up is ‘Power Be You’, the centrepiece of the EP’s message of empowerment that encourages listeners to engage and embrace their inner strength. Cynthia Bahy features on previous single ‘Her Frequency’ – a song of hope and gratitude focusing on renewing our inner strength and connection with the infinite power of the universe.
Standout track on the record ‘Asem’ – which means ‘problems’ in the Ashanti language ‘Twi’ spoken in Ghana – is an upbeat, genre-bending banger which infuses Boom Bap hip-hop and rock whilst long-term collaborator K.O.G. shares a fierce delivery.
Speaking about the single Franz says, “Asem is a bold and rebellious social commentary rap. The song touches on the effects of systemic oppression on marginalised communities. Asem has a message of the connection and togetherness that can be found in collaborations between different communities”.
The EP closes with ‘Slipstream’ featuring Cortney Dixon, a slick rap cruiser with a hazy hook that compliments Franz Von’s striking tone perfectly.
A project packed with substance and meaning, ‘PEOPLE DI POWA’ is a much-needed breath of fresh air in Black British music.
Previous support for Franz comes from BBC Introducing Sheffield and Amazing Radio who handed him a one-off show, as well as BBC Introducing at Radio 1 and DJ Target at BBC 1Xtra, Ministry of Sound, Naga Mag, Word Is Bond, Groovin’ Mood, and more.
Franz Von is a Jamaican-born, UK-based artist exploring traditional cultural lineage from Africa through to modern genres. After 8 years playing with K.O.G and the Zongo Brigade, Franz Von has collaborated with the likes of Tony Allen, Onipa, and Wiyaala.
Peter Kedves and Krisztian Buzas – aka BELAU – is one of the most promising electronica newcomers around the European music scene. In four years, they had more than 200 live performances in 25 countries. The debut LP, ‘The Odyssey’ won the Hungarian Grammy in best electronic music album category. Their long-awaited sophomore album, titled ‘Colourwave’, made their name on international level, now they release ‘Unimaginable’ featuring Sarah Jay Hawley, who was the vocalist of legendary Massive Attack album, Mezzanine.The vocal was recorded by Martin Smith who also worked with Bombay Bicycle Club, Bob Sinclar, Jarvis Cocker, Groove Armada.
The electronica duo shed some light on their new dreamy soulful effort.“As long as we give it to ourselves, there comes a point when we realize how much more difficult it is to sustain the unsustainable illusion around us than to simply become ourselves. Beyond this point we simply no longer wish to be other than what lies within us. From the starting perspective of this process – as the title of the song states – the end result is unimaginable, but the path of the anxious person can be purification itself, and there is certainly a way out of the infinitely hopeless.
The music video sets a fine example of this process. For us it was a huge honour that Sarah said yes to our request and we could have a really special underwater video for it. We feel that the song, the lyrics, the music video and the creators are now in a wonderful harmony”
The duo had many international successes. In the last years they played more than 200 shows in 25 countries and impressed audiences at renowned festivals like Primavera, Eurosonic, Electric Castle, Sziget, SXSW – to name just a few. Belau was supported by radios like BBC Radio 1, Triple J or KEXP and mediums like Clash Music, Billboard, The Line of Best Fit, or Rolling Stone. Their debut album won the Hungarian Grammy Award, the second one streamed by millions and had massive radio successes.
Belau who’re currently working on their third LP. Hungary’s No.1 musical export good, Belau will continue their European tour in 2023 included some clubs shows and summer festivals.
Check out the official video for ‘Unimaginable’ below…
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