AIDAN SKIRA wrote ‘In Your Shoes’ at a time when people took advantage of him, mistaken his kindness for weakness; he’s always there when his friends needed a shoulder to cry on, but the gesture was never reciprocated when he needed support.
So Aidan tried putting himself in their shoes, imagining what life would be like if he cared about others in the way they cared for him. Showcasing a brooding fusion in melodic R&B and trap-hop, the message behind ‘In Your Shoes is to simply protect yourself from those who drain your good nature – continue to shine and be that kind person who offers support that those really appreciate it.
Double Brit award nominated, platinum selling artist ELIZA ROSE teams up with the incomparable dance music heavyweights The Martinez Brothers for a sizzling new track ‘Pleasure Peak’ – a golden-era Chicago house bass-line which leads listeners into a dance-floor wonderland of sharpened drum programming and hypnagogic synths. The track fervently evolves into a pulsating peak-time anthem, twisting and morphing to the sound of the organ bass with Rose’s tantalising vocal gliding atop the intoxicating new single.
Ahead of the track’s release, Eliza joined Martinez Brothers at their residency at Hï Ibiza where they debuted and performed the track to a huge reception on the legendary balearic dancefloor.
Accompanying the track is an Isaac Lamb directed video shot in Ibiza that takes reference from iconic videos from the likes of Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, Kylie and more. Featuring Eliza and The Martinez Brothers in the mad flow of wild day on the white isle, sailing on a yacht, riding in a Jeep and ending up in the club, the contrasting day and night elements that make up an ideal 24 hours in Ibiza also represent the light and dark elements of the track is self.
Speaking on the single, Eliza says: “Pleasure Peak is that sexy Ibiza summer roller. Sharing similar ideals with the island in the sense that it has two sides. The Baleari sunny beach vibe and the hard hitting lose yourself in Ibiza clubland. Throughout the track both the lyrics and beat play with the light and the darkness, the sun and the shade, the glitter ball and the grit. Competing…. whilst at the same time balancing each other out. It was a dream to work with The Martinez Brothers. I have been a fan of theirs for such a long time so to go from seeing them in the rave to a collaboration on track that screams DC:10 is giving serious balearic full circle energy.”
Jersey’s alternative hip-hop artist and self-proclaimed misfit REG MASON unveils his introspective new single ‘HANDSHAKES’,’ featuring fellow NJ rapper and long-time friend GINI. Surfacing as a stream of charismatic consciousness, Mason separate his childhood dreams of being a musician from being a member of the music business. Produced by CURT, the old-school hip-hop inspired production tickles a nostalgic spot in the brain, filled with soulful, horn-led instrumentals that perfectly lay the foundation for Mason’s ferociously catchy bars to take center stage. ‘HANDSHAKES’ is an ode to entering adulthood, as Mason step into this next phase of his artist career with his eyes set on the prize, all while embracing his newfound mantra of it’s not personal, it’s just business.
According to Mason, the energy between the two emcees in ‘HANDSHAKES’ recreates a snapshot of what it looked and felt like to be rapping as young teenagers growing up in Union, NJ. “We would walk up and down our main street outside of our high school on Burnett Avenue and rap for hours. “HANDSHAKES’” is a recreation of the excitement and creativity that fueled us to rap as kids. The beat reminded me of childhood bliss, so the lyrics practically crawled out of me and took on a life of their own. “HANDSHAKES’” allowed me to reflect on the years I’ve spent creating my own world within my music, including the growing pains and the pushback that came with it.”
The accompanying music video (co-directed by Mason and CURT) is set at Mason’s uncle’s house in Orange, New Jersey, where he spent most of his days as a kid and found his love for music. The scene captures the artist-producer duo creating the track with GINI, shining light on the spontaneous, gritty, no-nonsense Jersey chemistry that fills the room. The scene is interpolated with home-video footage from Mason’s father’s camcorder that was captured when he was a kid, resulting in a whirlwind of nostalgia that serves as a nod to the passage of time, furthering his message of “no matter how much life as a musician throws at me, we’re all just tending to our inner child.”
Alongside ‘HANDSHAKES’, Mason released his debut album TESTDRIVE, last Wednesday (2nd August). The single signifies Mason’s coming into himself as an artist more than ever, crafting a sound uniquely his own while solidifying himself as one to watch as he continues his run of self-reflective, experimental hip-hop…check out the video below…
ELEANOR is a singer-songwriter with an R&B leaning sound, coloured in hues of soul and indie. Resonating in a more alternative and folk frequency, ‘Former Friend’ is the latest preview from forthcoming debut EP, A Late Bloom.
Preluding her wistful new single, ‘Former Friend, she explains: “Emotional intimacy requires surrender and interpersonal faith. When a relationship is unsuccessful, it can cause folks to break faith with themselves.”
Eleanor takes a narrative approach to songwriting, leaning on experiences of grief and overcoming to shape stories that are robust and deeply felt. She has recently contributed backup vocals to the published music of Chad Price, Texas King, and Emanuel whose album Alt Therapy was nominated for two JUNO Awards.
‘Former Friend’ was released today (4th August) via various music platforms. Have a listen to this deeply heartfelt piece below…
Coming off the back of their BBC1 play on Nels Hylton’s Future Alternative with previous single ‘oh no (i guess i did it again)’, vocalist Maeve Florsheim and instrumentalist Jasper Exley- better known as LUCKY IRIS– shared their latest single, ‘blowing kisses’, which was met with the same level of acclaim…
With a fusion of the soft backdrop and rumbling industrial bass – all soothed over by Maeve’s delicately heartfelt vocals – ‘blowing kisses’ also received support from Nels Hylton on his BBC1’s Future Alternative show – and was on featured on ITV’s reality show, Love Island!
‘blowing kisses’ is the final single from their EP, coming out 11th August…but for now, have a listen to this mesmeric summer bop below…
New Lease Music 