Song of the Day: Better Day (Wax Roar Remix) – 5 Weeks

Hailing from Brighton, 5 WEEKS has released an EP titled ‘My Psalms’, out now across various music platforms.

Covering themes of love, breakups, female empowerment and community unity, paired with a warm glow of nostalgic 90s-esque soul that runs fluent throughout the collection, The EP includes the previously released single, ‘Believe It’, which was well received from radio stations across the UK.

Alongside the release of the EP, 5 Weeks has also unveiled the remix of the fourth soulful offering from the EP, ‘Better Day’. 5 weeks has teamed up with Brighton’s producer Wax Roar to turn the single into an immediately infectious old-school dance banger. “Wax Roar was an absolute vibe,” Alexandria said about her time working with the producer. 

5 Weeks started out as a duo, consisting of DJ Outbreak and soul singer Alexandria, who shared a mutual respect for Reggae, Hip-Hop and rare groove. After DJ Outbreak left the group to concentrate on some personal challenges, Alexandria took time out to deliberate the future of the band which also allowed her time to complete the first year of her PHD in Criminological Social Work/ Policy.

Alexandria decided to front 5 Weeks, completing the EP alone. Recorded at Audio Mango, where Alexandria said she had the time of her life recording the project with Wax Roar, ‘My Psalms’ EP kept in line of the act’s modern twist on 90’s – esque soul, where she takes inspiration from the likes of Karen Wheeler, Lisa Stansfield and  Mica Paris, Moonchild, VanJess or Allen Stone, Tom Misch and Anita Baker.

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 and later picked by Sony for a publishing deal.Alexandria’s undeniable passion for music is makes up a fraction of her multifaceted life. Now a PHD graduate in Criminological Social Work/ Policy, she is a lecturer in health and social care, and an advocate for young people specifically in harmful sexual behaviour. As a prominent member of the community in her hometown in Brighton, Alexandria took part in Brighton’s half marathon to raise money for Sickle Cell. Alexandria is also donating 30% of the proceeds from My Psalms EP to BARCO, a Brighton-based charity that fights against anti-racism.‘Better Day’ (Wax Roar Remix) and ‘My Psalms’ EP are out now on various music outlets.

 Check out ‘Better Day’ (Wax Roar Remix) below…

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

Song of the Day: Lock It Down – Jamie-Lee Sexton

x5 time award nominated certified pop-star JAMIE-LEE SEXTON‘s single, ‘Lock It Down’ possesses a real sensual fusion of Pop and Afropop, which invites the listener to be part of a dance between two lovers. Led by smooth vocals, a killer hook that is undeniably catchy and an alluring sound that flows into the pop genre where Jamie-Lee feels at home in her sonic shoes.

“Besides singing, my second most favorite thing in life is to dance. I wanted to make a song that I’d love to dance to. A sexy song for lovers all around the world. Lock it down. Get down.” Jamie-Lee says.

‘Lock It Down’, is the fourth single from the South African pop songstress in 2023. And with number one radio hits and topping the iTunes charts, this is the beginning for Jamie-Lee who has her eyes on some interesting collabs and future sights…have a listen to ‘Lock It Down’ below…

Rapper MeRCY drops track, ‘The Artist’.

“Lessons of life be the sketches I write/deep depression/seek perfection/not reflection I like” – spits the lyricist known as MERCY as he introduces us to his latest work of art titled, ‘The Artist’.

Backed by a beautiful canvas of production provided by Lebanon Don, MeRCY goes to work detailing portions of his life that have made him who he is today. Each bar and rhyme blend together perfectly like when mixing colors to create another, as the artist takes us on a trip through his mind & past self. He grabs a mic that acts as a paint brush in order to create the picture of MeRCY. From seeing his older brother deal drugs, to run ins with the law but also trying to avoid disappointing his mother even while being out in the concrete jungles, it all plays a part in the ever growing picture of ‘The Artist’.

MeRCY starts off the second verse by saying “The artist who drew the hardest of hardships/with my tears on the canvas/bloodstains on my garments/written in blood no kisses and hugs”. Merc’ doesn’t mask any pain but shows it off in full because in his words “This is God’s work from all the hard work/beauty is pain my n***a/I’ve made it artwork”. Truly embodying himself within his raps is how we find the Florida native on this record, not being afraid of showing vulnerability but embracing it in order to create a special track that serves as the first single to his upcoming album ‘Michaelangelo’. If the single wasn’t already great, Tone Spliff adds some scratches throughout to top it off and ensure the greatness of ‘The Artist’. Have a listen below…

Song of the Day: This I Miss – Anabella Paige

NYC based singer-songwriter ANABELLA PAIGE‘s sophomore single ‘This I Miss,’ a timeless pop offering which takes form as her own version of a love letter. Produced and co-written alongside Henry Bloomfield, the track’s production samples The O’Jay’s ‘A Prayer,’ boasting heavenly strings and soulful piano licks that evoke a warm sense of nostalgia. At only 17 years old, Anabella Paige’s vivid storytelling abilities solidify that she is wise beyond her years, as she details the appreciation of a relationship while acknowledging that it is not meant to last forever. Through her lyricism, listeners come to understand that this relationship is stored in a time capsule, serving as a beautiful piece of history that both parties can reflect on with admiration and love.

On the inspiration behind the single, Anabella Paige explains, “Some people come into your life at a specific place and time for a reason, and I’ve found that it’s better to acknowledge that rather than wish you could have it forever, allowing it to lose the specialness that it had.”

Anabella Paige creates music that is thought provoking and sophisticated, painting a sonic world that puts a modern touch on sentimentality. She draws inspiration from artists including Norah Jones, Jane Birkin, SZA and Olivia Dean. Growing up, she moved from state to state frequently, which resulted in lots of time for soul-searching. At a young age, songwriting became her most trusted vessel when it came to expression; but at the time, she didn’t realize that the verses she penned in her diary would manifest into songs she would share with the world.

‘This I Miss’ follows the release of her debut single ‘Bandage’ (April 2023), which earned placements on Spotify Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds Pop. The rising artist opened for Rosie (Sony/Arista) on her most recent full US tour, and made her debut NYC performance opening for William Joseph Cook (Atlantic Records) at Mercury Lounge.

She’s definitely worth a listen..click play on the blissful ballad below…

Arlo Maverick unveils video for track ‘Night Shift’ ahead of album

Canadian hip-hop artist ARLO MAVERICK‘s video for new single, ‘Night Shift,’ offers a portrait of a person wrestling with the increasing demands of getting by and fulfilment, and positions Maverick as a chronicler of modern day working-class woes. The tune will appear on his upcoming release, Blue Collar, set for release on 20th October.

On the track, Maverick ponders the tension between balancing making ends meet and material success, and the overwhelming sacrifices made to reap the rewards. The video, co-directed and edited by Maverick and featuring emcees KazMega and Just Moe, depicts various people – a labourer, an office worker, and a janitor – grinding through a day of work.

“We wanted the video to be an honest representation of what sacrifice sometimes looks like for people hustling to get ahead,” says Maverick. “Being able to share the fruits of that labour with family is what makes it all worthwhile.”

Through a succession of buoyant, march-like beats, the track mirrors the monotony of work, while Maverick delivers the bleary-eyed refrain, “Working that night shift/I just want to go home/I just want to go home/I just want to go home.”

“This song shows the impact of shift work on your health and happiness; how you miss important moments in your family’s lives, and how these typically dead end jobs offer no possibility for advancement,” Maverick adds. “The dilemma we face in trying to live our best lives and make our families happy is often more overtime and less time together.”

Much of the themes on Blue Collar revolve around a universal pursuit of purpose, prosperity, and happiness, from the disillusionment of the job market after graduating from college to the gratification of indulging in material things to being undervalued at a 9 to 5. It’s an album that tries to capture the seemingly endless balancing act to meet our personal needs, satisfy our wants, and get ahead in an economic environment that makes it harder and harder to do so.

‘Night Shift’ is out now, with more to come from Maverick as he preps the release of his second full-length solo album. Check out the video for the track below…