NOWAAH THE FLOOD‘s latest solo full-length album, ‘Diluvian’ features one epic lineup of producers, including EL Maryacho, Rob Viktum, Kyo Itachi, Michaelangelo, Futurewave and The Mali Empire.
The army of producers rallied up to put together 12-tracks that seamlessly flow into each other, creating a memersic hip-hop/boombap vibe with the occasional appearance of old soul samples that will no doubt make a toe curling experience.
Nowaah teams up with fellow rapper Headkrack on track, ‘Day Ones’, where the pair rip through the Middle Eastern-esque instrumentation with some blazing hot bars.
Nowaah’s The Flood’s album ‘Diluvian’ is now out for your pleasure. Have a listen below (highly recommended)
A regular feature on the NEW LEASE MUSIC charts, christian rapper MIKE BODY brings along a thought-provoking message about today’s rap game via lyric video to his latest track, ‘More Life’.
Sporting an old-school vibe, ‘More Life’ reflects Mike body’s thoughts that hip-hop/rap should be a platform of encouragement and elevation.
‘More Life’ video follows Mike Body’s epic productions for tracks ‘For The Widows’ and ‘Who’s The Greatest’, which claimed the blog’s Music Video of the Week title for two consecutive weeks back in February.
Now here’s your chance to check out ‘More Life’ below…
Hong Kong-raised and Los Angeles-based artist and producer DEB FAN‘s single, ‘Lady’, is an intricate alt-r&b track which emerges from Deb’s recent pilgrimage to Hong Kong—her first visit in over three years—which reconnected her with the vibrant yet overwhelming pulse of her hometown, prompting a deep reflection of the complexities of modern femininity from her perspective as a Taiwanese immigrant living in the US. Co-produced alongside Max He, ‘Lady’ blends the live instrumentation of 90s R&B and the visual soundscapes of impressionist-era classical music, reclaiming themes of rebirth and challenging stereotypes at the intersection of technology, tradition and femininity.
In the accompanying music video (directed by Breanna Lynn), viewers will see that ‘Lady’ is set against the backdrop of a traditional tea party following Qing Ming Jie (清明節, or Tomb-Sweeping Day), a Chinese festival which blends mourning and remembrance. The visual artfully navigates the concept of techno-orientalism, challenging reductive stereotypes with its narrative and sound. Deb’s exploration of this theme questions the outdated portrayals of Asian cultures as both futuristic and culturally stagnant. The full-female cast subverts the clichéd image of the Asian female cyborg, blending high-tech elements with traditional symbols to stake their claim on their own identity.
In ‘Lady,’ Deb Fan shares that beyond defiance, her freedom of choice in defining her identity is what matters most: “There’s some beauty in made-up rules. King of my world with none to lose.” The song is a bold statement of self-empowerment, reclaiming narratives and defying stereotypes in a world that often seeks to define them for us.
Deb Fan has earned praise from tastemakers at Billboard, Lyrical Lemonade, MTV, Luna Collective, Ones to Watch, That Good Sh*t, and Gen Direct to name a few, as well as Spotify Editorial Playlists – All New Indie, Ethereal, Outliers, .ORG, Poses, high-rise, Fresh Finds, Fresh Finds: R&B, Fresh Finds: Indie, Mood., Radar: Hong Kong, Simmering, +852 Rising as well as over 30 New Music Friday playlists including a top 15 on USA NMF for her last release “9AM IN LONDON”. Deb also covered R&B Rising on Tidal and is set to be a featured Tidal Rising Artist for 2024. In 2023, she went on her debut tour supporting Hojean, and will play the KOHAI showcase in June 2024.
‘Lady’ is the first single released from Deb’s forthcoming sophomore EP ‘Kowloon Demos’. Why not check out the video for single below…
After the successful release of ‘Here I Am’, JLYLES keeps his momentum on a forward course as he gives us the interlude titled ‘Lyles Lullaby’, which serves as the second single to his upcoming album.
The Baltimore resident goes on an adventure through his brain as he revisits parts of his life, especially those during his transition to the home of the Chesapeake Bay. Produced by Sypooda, Lyles says that “this instrumental was so melodic that I couldn’t stop writing to it after penning the first line of the record. That’s why the song has no hook, it forced me to be introspective”. The influence gained from just the production gave the artist even more of an incentive to snag the beat from Sypooda. Gaining some sort of inspiration from any form of production is always a plus for artists, its even better when it takes one back to a certain time that challenges them musically and emotionally, as Lyles says “the beat is therapeutic”.
With the perfect backbone and theme set in stone, the New Jersey native went to work crafting what would eventually become an extension of the ‘Lullaby’ series, only second to ‘Chizz Lullaby’. JLyles held nothing back but instead let everything go. Really tuning into his vulnerable side with rhymes like “bottling my shit in this bottle is diabolical” and “man on a mission/my vision built a commission/my father sittin in prison/love momma but she was dippin/so we lackin supervision/and I’m the man of the house/weight of the world on my shoulders/gave hope in a drought”.
This record is yet another taste of what is in store for listeners and supporters of JLyles and is sure to put numbers on the board just as its predecessor is currently doing. The Execution has no release date set but from what the globe has heard off the album it is safe to say that no one should be worried about what to expect from it because expectations are high and they will be met. Check out Lyles Lullaby (Interlude) below…
Multidisciplinary music & visual artist LAURA PIERI reveals her new EP, ‘Frankie’. The EP will be accompanied by a short film which will premiere on June 17th.
The 4-track EP came to be when Pieri was at the point of almost giving up on her career. Inspired by what her farewell to the industry should sound like, the story of Frankie, a woman reclaiming her power, was born. In an EP that cycles through the great, bad, good, and ugly of self-discovery, Pieri emerges as an artist who has rediscovered her voice. The EP was co-written with an all-female team of songwriters and executive produced by Skyler Cocco.
The EP follows the protagonist, Frankie, who represents a woman navigating male-dominated environments. She is a foil story for women in predatory industries. Inspired by stories like Frankenstein, Suspiria, and Persephone, the characters in the Frankie story represent not only the ability of women to adapt and camouflage according to the circumstances of the moment, but also the sensation of imprisonment of having the need to have a myriad of versions in order to do so.
Across the EP’s 4 tracks, Pieri guides us through Frankie’s journey from disillusionment, anger, and finally, acceptance. “The EP was born out of a transitional phase for me,” Pieri writes. “I was mourning what I believed was me needing to give up on my career. I had felt that walking away was a necessity, and instead set my goals into pivoting into academia with corporate America as the end goal. However, leaving one male dominated field for another and feeling similar feelings come up made me see I was trying to run away from ghosts. Instead of running, I sat with them, and from that the story of Frankie, a woman reclaiming her voice and power, was born.”
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, where she lived until the age of 16, Laura Pieri always dreamed of being a pop star. In 2014, she moved to America and split her time between New York and Los Angeles to further her education and simultaneously pursue a music career. Inspired by a wide array of artists like Prince, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, and Michael Jackson, Pieri hopes to blend her pop influences with her Brazilian roots and use her songwriting to connect with others.
‘Frankie’ was released last Friday (31st May) across various music platforms. Why not check it out below…
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