705’s new EP, ‘7:05’ is a pleasurable fusion of Afrobeats, R&B and hip-hop

‘7:05’ is a six-track project that gives a deeper insight to the person (Surulere Bankholemoh) who most have come to know as Nigerian artist and producer, 705.

Released last Friday (26th of May), the E.P starts off with a surreal but yet motivating track entitled ‘Daily Prayer’ which gives a real introduction to the artist, sharing insights on his beliefs, hometown and upbringing. With party tracks like Arabian nights & Spender ‘7:05’ paints a full picture of 705 as he grab life firmly by the horns and live it to the fullest and party! The dark, sombre contribution from tracks, ‘Pain’ and ‘Over’ paint a vivid picture of returning to the everyday reality he lives once the good times are over.

705 is a . Born in Lagos, 705 was raised by his grandmother before moving to London in 2001. Influenced by so many great artists such as King sunny Ade, Fela kuti, Michael Jackson, Tupac and 50 Cent, 705’s sound is a fusion of Afrobeats, R&B and Hip-Hop Music and 7:05 EP encompasses all the genres into a pleasurable listening experience. Check out the project below…

Must Listens: Daily Prayer, Good Feeling, Spender

Song of the Day: Leaving – Lydia René

LYDIA RENÉ‘s single, ‘Leaving’ is a deeply emotional account of what it feels like to leave a relationship in turmoil. The piano and strings, along with Lydia’s increasingly soaring vocals, create an atmosphere that draws the listener into a very intimate space of heartbreak.

A Jersey native (currently residing in Los Angeles), René was recently featured on BET.com as an artist on the verge and she’s been seen and heard on Apple TV + , Amazon Prime (Man In the High Castle Final Season 4.4 million views on Youtube), Disney + (Lady And the Tramp Trailer 7.9 million views on Youtube) and many more. Lydia René has also recently worked/collaborated with Ledisi, Lukas Graham, Bobby Brown, Mike Posner and many others.

Have a listen to the stunning single below…

916 deliver their sultry new cut ‘Nuisance Interlude’.

Formerly known as Nikz & Booda, 916 deliver their sultry new cut ‘Nuisance Interlude’.

With velvet-smooth production and harmonious vocals from Nikz, combined seamlessly with Booda’s relaxed yet quick-witted bars, the 916 collective execute another flawless blend of R&B, Soul, and Hip Hop in this new song, showcasing their unique signature sonics.

The luxurious track clocks in at just over 2 minutes captivating the listeners with a stylish seductive sound, which no doubt leaves fans craving for more from the Oxford based collective.

Bursting onto the music scene representing their Punjabi heritage, British born collective 916 have garnered their own unique sound, blending elements of R&B, Hip-Hop and Soul. With records such as ‘Get To It’ and ‘Motion’, 916 have since built further anticipation for a full length project with their most recent releases ‘Mimosa’ and ‘Nuisance Interlude’.

Throughout their career, 916 have consistently showcased an impactful style and sound, demonstrating their uniqueness and conceptual artistry, both visually and sonically. Since their foray into the music industry, 916 has amassed an impressive array of accolades. From performing at the Titan Festival in 2022 alongside Lloyd, Ludacris, and Jon B, to gaining notable support from BBC 1Xtra’s Sian Anderson, who featured their track ‘Pull Up’ as her ‘Online Find’ upon its release. Additionally, their music has received airplay on prominent platforms such as BBC Asian Network, Reprezent, and Radio2Funky.

With a multitude of releases slated for this year, 916 are poised to continue captivating audiences and solidifying their presence in the industry…Check out their lush single below…

Song of the Day: Biting Ice Cream – Maggie Andrew

Always pushing boundaries, you can expect the unexpected from alternative-pop artist MAGGIE ANDREW. Her signature sound meshes dreamy, synth-laden melodies together with edgy lyrics.

Inspiration can come from the most unpredictable places, like maybe when you’re trying on your first grill at the jeweller’s! Maggie’s bold and upbeat song, ‘Biting Ice Cream,’ came from that icy, white image of wearing a grill and thinking about getting ice cream on a hot California afternoon.

The track is 75% attitude and 25% sexy with bouncy 808s and playful melodies. Check out the official ‘Biting Ice Cream’ music video below…

Top Boy star shares new single, ‘Can’t Box Me’ + Video

Known for his role in Top Boy as Aaron, HOPE shares his single ‘Can’t Box Me’ and accompanied video, both released last Friday (19th May).

Hope says of his new single: “Can’t Box me explores the frustration of being ‘boxed’ into one medium and not taken seriously when branching out. Artistry can be expressed in multiple ways. For me I’m an actor who branched into music who can still be successful in both.”

Hope is a Rap/ R&B artist as well as an actor who is well known for his role in Top Boy as Aaron. His musical influences stem from the likes of Dave, Drake as well as 90’s/ 2000’s Hip Hop and R&B. Hope’s first single ‘Stop the Rain’, amassed an amazing 2,404,069 streams.

Can’t Box Me is the first single from his forthcoming, unannounced self-released EP, Mirror Man, out 8th September. Check out the video for the smooth single below…